More puzzled, even, than before, I complied. Whatever Arnold had up his sleeve, I was convinced that he was not merely making game of me; and, in truth, I had no sooner concealed myself in my tumbled berth, which was so deep that this was not hard to do, than a gentle tap sounded on the door.
"Come in," Arnold said in a low voice.
The door then opened and I heard hesitant steps.
"Well?" Arnold said, when I had heard the latch of the door click shut again.
"If you please, sir," said a piping little voice, which I knew could come from only Willie MacDougald, "if you please, sir, they were laughing hearty at Mr. Upham most of the morning."
"Yes?"
"Yes, sir, and they said it was a shame for him to ruin his complexion by a-walking all night."
"What else?"
"Yes, sir, and he was asleep all morning—at least, sir, he was in his berth, but I heard him groaning, sir."