Lieutenant Winterbottom bowed.
“I’ve had the pleasure of reading Lieutenant Winterbottom’s name several times this forenoon,” observed Captain Oughton, as he returned the salute.
“You refer to my luggage, I’m afraid, Captain Oughton?”
“Why, if I must say it, I certainly think you have enough for a general.”
“I can only reply, that I wish my rank were equal to my luggage: but it is a general complaint every time I have the misfortune to embark. I trust, Captain Oughton, it will be the only one you will have to make of me during the passage.”
Major Clavering, who had waited during this dialogue, continued—
“Captain Majoribanks, whom I ought to apologise to for not having introduced first.”
“Not at all, major: you just heard the brevet rank which Winterbottom’s baggage has procured him.”
“Not the first time a man has obtained rank through his ‘baggage,’” observed one of the officers, sotto voce.
“Mr Ansell, Mr Petres, Mr Irving.”