"That will do, thank you," said Philip presently.
The bath-steward turned off the valve, and the crackling ceased. Philip sat down upon the edge of the bath.
"Well, Brand," he said, "how does the Bosphorus compare with Oxford Street?"
He held out his hand, and Mr. Brand, having overcome his surprise, shook it resentfully.
"I suppose you are surprised to come across me here," he remarked defiantly.
"Not altogether," replied Philip, thinking of the second class; "but I did not expect to find you swabbing bathrooms."
"I wasn't going to waste good money travelling as a passenger," said Brand sullenly. "I tried to get taken on in the engine-room, but they wouldn't look at me without marine engineering experience; so I had to be content with this. It's only for a week."
"You aren't coming back, then?"
"It depends," said Brand shortly. "Not at present."
"Have you given up the Britannia Company?"