The voyage
is still young, and so are we; let's make the most of things
while we can."
It was after dinner on the promenade deck, and as Raffles spoke
he glanced sharply fore and aft, leaving me next moment with a
step full of purpose. I retired to the smoking-room, to smoke
and read in a corner, and to watch von Heumann, who very soon
came to drink beer and to sulk in another.
Few travellers tempt the Red Sea at midsummer; the Uhlan was very
empty indeed. She had, however, but a limited supply of cabins
on the promenade deck, and there was just that excuse for my
sharing Raffles's room. I could have had one to myself
downstairs, but I must be up above. Raffles had insisted that I
should insist on the point. So we were together, I think, without
suspicion, though also without any object that I could see.
On the Sunday afternoon I was asleep in my berth, the lower one,
when the curtains were shaken by Raffles, who was in his
shirt-sleeves on the settee.
"Achilles sulking in his bunk!"
"What else is there to do?" I asked him as I stretched and
yawned. I noted, however, the good-humor of his tone, and did my
best to catch it.
"I have found something else, Bunny."
"I daresay!"
"You misunderstand me. The whipper-snapper's making his century
this afternoon. I've had other fish to fry.
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