He sidled over and put his hand on the partition.
"The--ah--next room is occupied by the--er--the French gentleman, is it not ?" he asked.
"Yes, sir." "I--I presume--presume, you know--that you are able to hear any--ah--conversation that may take place in that room, unless--er--the conversation is--guarded." "Not unless we take particular pains to listen," said Merry.

"Even then, it is doubtful if we can hear anything plainly." "And we are not eavesdroppers," cut in Diamond.

"We do not take pains to listen." "Oh, no--er--no, of course not!" exclaimed the singular stranger.

"I--I didn't insinuate such a thing! Ha! ha! ha! The idea! But you know--sometimes--occasionally--persons hear things when they--er--do not try to hear." "Well, what in the world are you driving at ?" asked Frank, not a little puzzled by the man's singular manner.
"Well, you see, it's--this way: I--I don't care to be--overheard.

I don't want anybody to--to think I'm prying into their--private business.
You understand ?" "I can't say that I do." "Perhaps I can make myself--er--clearer." "Perhaps you can." "My name is--er--Slush--Peddington Slush." "Holy cats! what a name!" muttered Browning, while Rattleton grinned despite his sickness.
"I--I'm taking a sea voyage--for--for my health," explained Mr.Slush.
"That's why I didn't go over on a--a regular liner.