"We have put our names down for ten shillings apiece—about thirty of us. When we get into port, we shall tell Mr. Lowington that we wish to present a silver pitcher to a gentleman on board, in token of our appreciation of his kindness, &c., and ask him for half a sovereign each from our funds."
"He will wish to know who the gentleman is."
"We can ask to be excused from telling him."
"I can manage that part of the business for you. Each of the fellows shall give me an order on the principal for ten shillings, to be paid to Dr. Winstock, who will buy the pitcher for you, if you like. He is acquainted in Cork. I will give all the orders to the doctor, and he will get the present without saying a word to Mr. Lowington until after the presentation. Then he will have no chance to object, on the suspicion that the gift is intended for him—don't you see?"
Paul Kendall entered into the project with a degree of enthusiasm which was rather embarrassing to the conspirator.
"The fellows have been very secret about the thing," added Pelham.
"They must have been, or I should have heard something about it," replied Paul, innocently.
"No one but ourselves has known a thing about it till now. They have formed a kind of secret society, and know each other by certain signs."
"But what was the voting for?"
"For orator of the day."