"But Uncle Moses is a strict financier, and he might object to the investment of five hundred dollars in this manner," said the captain.
"He will not object to anything that is just and fair, for he is far from being a mean man," protested Louis; and he was thinking that the possession of the elegant little steamer would at least double the pleasure, or the "fun" as they called it, of their daily life on the voyage. "Besides, Captain, you know that he did not object to the expenses of the voyage the first six months, and then he had to pay out double the present rate. Mr. Woolridge pays half the expense now of everything, including repairs and alterations. I will speak to Uncle Moses about the matter. There he is on the promenade with the rest of the party;" and Louis rose from his seat.
"No, Sir Knight; we don't want any special pleading, and Mr. Woolridge is as much interested in this matter as he is. Ask both of them to come aft, and we will talk over the matter and settle it very quickly," added the commander.
The two gentlemen received the summons, and immediately presented themselves before the captain, who rose and placed chairs for them. What had been said before about the new project was repeated to the trustee of Louis and the magnate of the Fifth Avenue.
"Mrs. Belgrave was saying to me yesterday, while we were sailing round the Rock, that she wished we had a steam-yacht like the Salihé, only one with a Christian name," said Uncle Moses, shaking his fat sides at the coincidence.
"I am glad that somebody besides myself has seen the advantage of having a steam-launch on board," added the commander. "I think they will all see it when the matter is suggested to them."
"But what is the cost of her?" asked Uncle Moses, chuckling at something he had in his mind till his fat form quivered like a barrel of soft soap when shaken. "Since I have been relieved of half the cost of this pleasure trip, I have had some of my old troubles come back to me, for I don't see how Sir Louis will possibly be able to spend even a reasonable portion of his income, and the subject begins to worry me again. I had an easy time of it the first six months, for the expenses made a considerable hole in the amount."
"Then I suppose you charge your present misery upon me for paying half of the expenses, fair and just as that is," added Mr. Woolridge, laughing a good deal more vigorously than he was in the habit of doing. "By all means buy the little steamer, and relieve Uncle Moses of some of his woe!"
"Well, how much will she cost?" demanded the lawyer. "If we can get rid of five or ten thousand dollars in this manner, it will relieve me of a part of the burden I have to bear."
"But I must pay half of the cost of the steamer," added the magnate.