“Are you going to stay long in Cairo?” he asked Vansittart, when they were within sight of Alexandria.
“Not long. Perhaps only till I get my luggage. I shall go up the Nile.”
“You’ll find it rather hot before you’ve been a long way.”
“Oh, I don’t mind heat. I’m not a feverish subject,” said Vansittart, lightly, having no more idea of going up the Nile than of going to the moon.
“You’ll stop at Sheppard’s, of course?”
“Yes, decidedly. I’m told it’s a very good hotel.”
While they were nearing their port he contrived to get a good deal of information about the steamers that touched there. He meant to get off on the first boat that sailed after he landed. All the interval he wanted was the time to buy some ready-made clothes and a valise, so that he might not appear on board the homeward-bound steamer in the miserable condition in which he had introduced himself to the captain of the P. and O.
He parted with that officer with every expression of friendliness.
“I shan’t forget how good you’ve been to a traveller in distress,” he said lightly; “you may not hear of me for a month or two, perhaps. I may be up the Nile——”
“Take care of the climate,” interjected the captain.