“Are we going to stay long in Europe?” asked Ben.
“You ask me a question which I cannot answer. My plans I make as I go along.”
“Excuse my asking. Of course I am satisfied.”
On a large steamer like the Etruria it is expensive to occupy a whole room. Ben found that he had a roommate in the person of a young Englishman about nineteen years old. He had a pleasant, good-humored face, that invited confidence.
“So we are to be together,” he said. “Well, I am glad of it.”
“Thank you.”
“I feared some disagreeable person would be put with me. I would much rather have a boy. If you don’t mind let me know your name.”
Ben was about to give his real name, but thought in time.
“Edwin Harcourt.”
“And are you alone?”