"This is the room of the first lady in waiting," said the steward, as they went in.
"I should say the first lady in waiting was well accommodated," said Paul, laughing, as he glanced at the spacious apartment.
"But she may be a countess," replied the steward, leading the way to the next room. "This is the queen's bed-chamber."
There was a large bed in this room, which looked just like anybody's bed; but it was by no means so elegant as the young republican had anticipated. The apartment was rich and costly in its furnishings, but there was none of the magnificence which one would have expected to find in the room of a queen.
"This is the dressing-room of Prince Albert," added the steward, entering the next room. "Her majesty allows no one to occupy it since the death of his highness."
Beyond this, on the same side, were shown several rooms appropriated to the use of the princesses. They corresponded in style with those of the queen; but in nothing connected with the yacht was there any gaudy display. The party went to the opposite side, and were shown several rooms like those they had just seen, which were occupied by the princes. The forward room on the port side was the drawing-room. It was larger than any other except the breakfast-room, but did not appear to be extravagantly furnished; everything seemed to be provided for comfort rather than show.
The conductor then led them forward, where, on each side of a passage, were four rooms, each provided with a handsome, narrow bedstead, which the steward said were for the use of the lords and ladies in waiting. Forward of these, in the bow of the vessel, was the kitchen, a three-cornered room like that on the Young America, with a large galley or cooking-range in the middle.
Below the royal apartments, in the after part of the ship, were the cabins for the servants. As the steward led his guests towards the gangway, Dr. Winstock took out his purse.
"Never mind that just now," interposed their conductor, "especially as there is the captain."
Paul wondered if the doctor intended to insult a person of so much consequence as the steward of the queen's yacht must be, by offering him money. He glanced at the captain, who was a fine-looking man, in naval uniform, as the steward led the way to the accommodation steps. The doctor slyly slipped a couple of English shillings into the man's hand, and they went down into their boat.