I woke up to perceive Ross sauntering towards me, with his hands in his pockets and a mischievous twinkle in his grey eyes.
"Hullo!" he observed. "Got my pipe?"
I nodded. "I have bought you a beauty," I said. "You will be a credit to the ship."
"There's a telegram for you in your cabin," he went on; "a cable from England, I think. It came on board just after you had gone ashore."
"A cable from England!" I repeated. "I wonder who the Dickens it's from."
He chuckled softly. "Can't say," he replied, "unless it's a message from King Arthur offering you a seat at the Round Table. I believe they're getting devilish short of knights errant."
I stepped up to him and took him gently but firmly by the arm.
"I think you want a drink, Ross," I said. "You had better come along down with me, and I'll give you a whisky and soda."