Mr.Tredgold, with a significant glance at Mr.Chalk, said that it reminded him of a sea-fog.
It only reminded Mr.Chalk, however, of a smoky chimney from which he had once suffered, and he at once entered into minute details.

The theme was an inspiriting one, and before Mr.Tredgold could hark back to the sea again Mr.Stobell was discoursing, almost eloquently for him, upon drains.

From drains to the shortcomings of the district council they progressed by natural and easy stages, and it was not until Miss Drewitt had withdrawn to the clearer atmosphere above that a sudden ominous silence ensued, which Mr.Chalk saw clearly he was expected to break.
"I--I've been telling them some of your adventures," he said, desperately, as he glanced at the captain; "they're both interested in such things." The latter gave a slight start and glanced shrewdly at his visitors.
"Aye, aye," he said, composedly.
"Very interesting, some of them," murmured Mr.Tredgold.

"I suppose you'll have another voyage or two before you've done?
One, at any rate." "No," said the captain, "I've had my share of the sea; other men may have a turn now.

There's nothing to take me out again--nothing." Mr.Tredgold coughed and murmured something about breaking off old habits too suddenly.
"It's a fine career," sighed Mr.Chalk.
"A manly life," said Mr.Tredgold, emphatically.
"It's like every other profession, it has two sides to it," said the captain.
"It is not so well paid as it should be," said the wily Tredgold, "but I suppose one gets chances of making money in outside ways sometimes." The captain assented, and told of a steward of his who had made a small fortune by selling Japanese curios to people who didn't understand them.
The conversation was interesting, but extremely distasteful to a business man intent upon business.