“I wish you knew just how dull it was in Hamburg now. Business is, oh, so quiet. And I so like to talk to bright young men. It just occurred to me that you and your young friend would like to take a little voyage with me, in a trading vessel that I own. Of course, in these sad times of war a sea voyage is not the popular choice for recreation, but just a brief cruise in known waters isn’t at all bad for the nerves. The regularly enlisted young men, it seems, cannot be spared, and I have spoken to the lieutenant about borrowing his young visitors for a week or two, promising them both a good time, and just that spice of adventure which lads of your caliber seem to require.”
“It just occurred” also to Billy that it was more than passing strange, in the first place, that there should be so much personal interest manifested in the affairs of Henri and himself, and, secondly, how it was that an ordinary tradesman could have such a “pull” with military authority. The civilian here, as a rule, did not count in high figures alongside of a uniform.
This was evidently an exceptional case, for not only did the lieutenant approve of Herr Roque’s proposition and invitation, but that officer had unbent to the extent of entertaining Henri, on the side, and telling him that Billy and himself were lucky in attracting the interest of this kindly merchant.
So it proved no longer a matter of open consent on the part of the boys; it was simply a go, when the lieutenant commanded.
“I don’t know why I was selected as the dummy for all that beating around the bush,” observed Billy, when the boys tumbled into their bunks that night.
“You oughtn’t to kick because you are the prominent member of the firm,” teased Henri.
“Well, we won’t know what it is until we get to it, that’s one thing sure,” yawned Billy.
They were booked, if they only knew it, to discover that “Herr Roque” was a man of many moods, as well as make-ups.