Mr. Vanderholt's face lighted up. 'I was off her in a wherry not above a fortnight ago, and we stopped to admire her. I never saw prettier lines.' Here he raised his eyes to the picture over the sideboard, as though observing it for the first time, but his face discovered no marks of enthusiasm or admiration whilst he let his sight rest for a moment on that square of splendid, spirit-moving canvas. 'My uncle was a shipbuilder,' he continued, 'and I have some knowledge of that trade. The finest examples of seaworthy craft are, in my opinion, the Baltimore clippers--some of them, at all events. The _Mowbray_ might be the queen of that fleet, sir.' Mr. Vanderholt glanced at his daughter, as if he should say, 'This is our man.' He then rang the bell. A footman quickly appeared. 'Wine,' said Mr. Vanderholt. 'Not for me, if you please,' said Captain Glew, lifting his hand, and bowing with a motion that made his refusal emphatic. 'What will you take?' said Mr. Vanderholt. 'Nothing whatever, I thank you, sir.' 'Are you a teetotaler?' said Mr. Vanderholt, signing to the footman to be gone. 'No, sir. I am one of those men who drink only when they are thirsty, and as I am seldom thirsty it follows that I drink little.' 'Do you know anything about fore and aft seamanship?' _Now_ Captain Glew smiled, but the expression was like a passing spasm. 'I do, sir. I have held command in several types of ships in my time. Seven years ago I had charge for three voyages of a fruiter from the Thames to the Western Islands.' 'That will do,' said Mr. Vanderholt, with an appreciative flourish of his hand, and a laugh of satisfaction. 'Five years ago, being in distress for a position, and having a wife and two children to maintain, I took command of a three-masted schooner to the Brazils, where I left her and returned in charge of a little barque. I then got a berth in Mr. Fairbanks' employ----' He was proceeding, but Mr. Vanderholt had heard enough. 'I am quite satisfied,' said he. 'Now let us settle the matter straight off. That is my way of going to work. I'm not for easing away handsomely; I'm for letting go with a run. We shall want a mate, and we shall want a crew. Can I trust you to see to this business?' 'You can, sir.' 'Let the crew be blue-water men. I shall want real sailors aboard the _Mowbray_.' 'There's nothing like them, sir.' 'The craft lies dismantled, as you know. I leave the whole work of her being made ready for sea to you. Employ your own labour. Call upon me as the work proceeds. I shall make you several visits from time to time, for I am a man of leisure.' 'Does the young lady go with us, sir?' 'Yes.' 'You'll wish her cabin specially fitted?' 'I will see to that myself, Captain Glew.' 'Right, sir. And the voyage, I understand, is to be a cruise in the North Atlantic?' 'It is to be a run to the Equator and home.' 'It seems such an odd place to steer for,' said Miss Vanderholt, breaking the silence for the first time.