"Well, that's very kind of you, sir," said the captain bluffly. "Thank you then, I'll come. But perhaps you gentlemen would like to go over the yacht alone? I want to write a letter or two. You go about and talk to my boys. They're not primed, gentlemen." "Well, I think we will," said the doctor quickly, "Eh, Meadows?" "Yes, Captain Bradleigh," said Sir John; "one does not decide upon a thing like this in a minute." "Certainly not, sir. You go and have a good rummage, she'll bear it, and you jot down in your log-book anything you see that you'd like to draw attention to. Call any of the men to move or overhaul anything you wish." For the next three hours, to Jack's great dismay, his father and Doctor Instow roamed and hunted over the yacht. Nothing seemed too small for the doctor to pounce upon, though he devoted most attention to the magazine-room, amongst the sporting implements; but one way and another they thoroughly overhauled the yacht from stem to stern, even to examining the cable-tier and the well, and having several long talks with the men, before, to Jack's great satisfaction, as he sat against the aft bulwarks, his father came to him and said-- "Tired, my boy?" "Wearied out, father," was the reply. "Well, we have done now. What do you think of the yacht?" "Nothing, father;" and then hastily, as he saw the look of trouble in Sir John's eyes, "I don't understand anything." "Humph! No. Of course not. Well, come down into the saloon." The captain looked up from where he was writing, having carefully abstained from joining them since lunch. "Well, gentlemen," he said, smiling, and a quiet triumphant look beaming on his face, "done?" "Yes," said the doctor, wiping his forehead; "I haven't worked so hard for months." "Like the look of her, sir?" "Very much indeed," said Sir John quietly; and a pang of misery shot through the boy. "Ah, you don't know her yet, sir; but I'm glad you think well of her." Sir John took a seat and was silent for a few moments, Doctor Instow watching him with an inquiring look, while Jack was in agony. "Look here, Captain Bradleigh," said Sir John at last, "I do not profess to be a judge of such matters, but everything here seems to me to speak for itself, and I can fairly say that I never saw a vessel in such perfect trim before." "That's a high compliment to pay me, sir," replied the captain, "and I thank you for it. Well, I'm glad to have met you, sir, and it is a break in rather a monotonous life. Don't apologise, sir, I know it is a very heavy price for the craft, and of course it is on account of her having fittings that not one gentleman in ten would think of putting in a yacht. You were quite welcome to see her, and as for anything I have done--" "I do not quite understand you," said Sir John. "No, sir? Well, I take it that what you say is to smooth down that the craft will not quite suit you."