“Who’s on deck?” asked Gregory very nervously.
“Mr. Speers is in the pilot-house studying his navigation; and there are some seamen about the deck; but all is working well. I have the luggage in the boat, and Fillgrove has put on his ulster so as to be in keeping with you. Here is the mackintosh, Dave; on with it,” continued Sir Philip, taking the coat from the peg where he had hung it.
Gregory put on the garment, and put the muffler around his neck, concealing his face below the nose. Sir Philip jammed his Scotch cap down over his eyes, and it would have been difficult for any one to discover the deception. No one on board would have suspected that the coat did not contain a young baronet.
“Now, here is a sovereign to blind the eyes of the steward if he looks too closely at you,” continued the Briton, as he opened the door of the smoking-room. “Don’t stop a moment till you are in the boat.”
Gregory left the room, and hastened to the gangway, where the steward, who had waited on the sprigs at the table, stood by the side of the other passenger.
“You will be warm enough in that coat and those mufflers,” said the steward, as Gregory approached the steps.
“This blasted water is very rough and cold,” interposed Lord Fillgrove, turning up the collar of his ulster. “It is best to keep the bloody stuff outside of you.”
“So it is, my lord,” replied the man.
At this moment Gregory handed the steward the money the baronet had given him for the purpose, though his companion had distracted the attention of the man.
“God bless you, Sir Philip!” exclaimed the grateful steward, as he put the sovereign in his pocket; and no doubt he wished the steamer had more passengers of the same sort, for his lordship had “tipped” him in the same amount.