"Believe me, you two can find plenty to occupy your minds today without troubling yourselves about Lord Ventnor." "I am very much obliged to you," murmured the baronet, who, notwithstanding his worry, was far too experienced a man of the world not to acknowledge the good sense of this advice, no matter how ruffianly might be the guise of the strange person who gave it.
"That is settled, then," said Robert, laughing good-naturedly, for he well knew what a weird spectacle he must present to the bewildered old gentleman.
Even Sir Arthur Deane was fascinated by the ragged and hairy giant who carried himself so masterfully and helped everybody over the stile at the right moment He tried to develop the change in the conversation.
"By the way," he said, "how came you to be on the _Sirdar_?
I have a list of all the passengers and crew, and your name does not appear therein." "Oh, that is easily accounted for.

I shipped as a steward, in the name of Robert Jenks." "Robert Jenks! A steward!" This was worse than ever.

The unhappy shipowner thought the sky must have fallen.
"Yes.

That forms some part of the promised explanation." Iris rapidly gathered the drift of her lover's wishes.

"Come, father," she cried merrily.