"I have concluded to take that room," said a young man, rather dashily dressed, as he rushed hastily up to the counter. My heart sank within me, for the announcement seemed to mean that I had lost my passage. But I was determined to go on board of the steamer, and make an arrangement with any officer who was open to a treaty for the use of his state-room. "You take both berths?" added the clerk. "No," replied the young man, glancing at me, as I had seen him do several times before. "Then here is your chance," said the clerk to Mr. Solomons. CHAPTER XXII. IN WHICH ERNEST MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF E. DUNKSWELL. MR. SOLOMONS examined the plan again to ascertain the locality of the state-room which contained the unoccupied berth. "It is on the other side of the ship from mine," said he. "But we can do no better." "Perhaps this gentleman will exchange with you," suggested the clerk. "I am quite willing to take the young gentleman into my state-room," answered the stranger. "Of course he will take the vacant berth in that room," added Mr. Solomons, who did not seem to think that the offer of the stranger was very magnanimous, since the berth in his room could be taken by the next applicant, whether he was willing or not. The clerk had written the receipt for the passage money paid him by the young man, and pushed it across the counter towards him. The name on the paper was E. Dunkswell. I confess that I was not particularly pleased with Mr. Dunkswell, and did not care to occupy a state-room with him. Besides being rather jauntily dressed, he wore too much jewelry to suit my taste. His speech was somewhat peculiar, and I set him down as a fast young man. He appeared to be about twenty-one years old, though possibly he was more than that. "I have the lower berth in this room," said Mr. Solomons, addressing the stranger, and pointing to his room on the plan. "It is about the same kind of a room as your own. If you would exchange berths with me, it would oblige me very much." "I should be very happy to accommodate you," replied the fast young man, "but for particular reasons I desire to occupy the berth I have engaged." "My room is just as good as the one you have taken," added Mr. Solomons. "Very true; but I like the locality of mine better than yours."