To come back to earth and prose, I might think it
unpatriotic of him to choose a German boat, but on no other line
did you receive such attention and accommodation for your money.
There was a hint of better reasons. Raffles wrote, as he had
telegraphed, from Bremen; and I gathered that the personal use of
some little influence with the authorities there had resulted in
a material reduction in our fares.
Imagine my excitement and delight! I managed to pay what I owed
at Thames Ditton, to squeeze a small editor for a very small
check, and my tailors for one more flannel suit. I remember that
I broke my last sovereign to get a box of Sullivan's cigarettes
for Raffles to smoke on the voyage. But my heart was as light as
my purse on the Monday morning, the fairest morning of an unfair
summer, when the special whirled me through the sunshine to the
sea.
A tender awaited us at Southampton. Raffles was not on board,
nor did I really look for him till we reached the liner's side.
And then I looked in vain. His face was not among the many that
fringed the rail; his hand was not of the few that waved to
friends. I climbed aboard in a sudden heaviness. I had no
ticket, nor the money to pay for one. I did not even know the
number of my room. My heart was in my mouth as I waylaid a
steward and asked if a Mr.
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