His office is a singularly unattractive room. He writes at a large table, and has a fireproof safe at his elbow. There are three wooden chairs ranged against the wall opposite the writing-table. Four photographs of steamers, cheaply framed, hang above the chairs. They are _The Andrew McMunn, The Eliza McMunn_, and, a tribute to the deceased Jimmy, _The McMunn Brothers_. These form the fleet owned by the firm, and carry coal from one port to another, chiefly to Belfast. On the chimney-piece under a glass shade, is a model of _The McMunn Brothers_, the latest built and largest of the ships. “Good-morning to you, my lord!” said McMunn, without rising from his seat. He nodded towards one of the chairs which stood against the wall. This was his way of inviting his visitor to sit down. His eyes were fixed, with strong disapproval, on the cigarette, which still smoked feebly in Lord Dunseverick’s hand. “Your clerk gave me a hint,” said Dunseverick, “that you object to tobacco.” “It’s my opinion,” said McMunn, “that the man who pays taxes that he needn’t pay--I’m alluding to the duty on tobacco, you’ll understand--for the sake of poisoning himself with a nasty stink, is little better than a fool. That’s my opinion, and I’m of the same way of thinking about alcoholic drink.” Lord Dunseverick deposited the offending cigarette on the hearth and crushed it with his foot. “Teetotaller?” he said. “I dare say you’re right, though I take a whisky-and-soda myself when I get the chance.” “You’ll no get it here,” said McMunn; “and what’s more, you’ll no’ get it on any ship owned by me.” “Thank you. It’s as well to understand before-hand.” “I’m a believer in speaking plain,” said McMunn. “There’s ay less chance of trouble afterwards if a man speaks plain at the start. But I’m thinking that it wasn’t to hear my opinion on the Christian religion that your lordship came here the day.” McMunn, besides being a teetotaller, and opposed to the smoking of tobacco, was the president of a Young Men’s Anti-Gambling League. He was, therefore, in a position to throw valuable light on the Christian religion. “I came to settle the details about this expedition to Hamburg,” said Lord Dunseverick. “Well,” said McMunn, “there’s no that much left to settle. _The Brothers_ is ready.” “_The Brothers?_” “_The McMunn Brothers_. Thon’s the model of her on the chimneypiece.” Lord Dunseverick looked at the model attentively. It represented a very unattractive ship. Her bow was absurdly high, cocked up like the snout of a Yorkshire pig. Her long waist lay low, promising little freeboard in a sea. Her engines and single funnel were aft. On a short, high quarterdeck was her bridge and a squat deck-house. She was designed, like her owner, for purely business purposes. “You’ll have the captain’s cabin,” said McMunn. “Him and me will sleep in the saloon.” “Oh, you’re coming too?” “I am. Have you any objection?” “None whatever. I’m delighted. We’ll have a jolly time.”