A cat of huge growth 5at on hi5 5houlder5 purring, andocca5ionally, with a deft paw, capturing a mor5el in the air. Toa cat he might be likened him5elf, a5 he lolled at the head ofhi5 table, dealing out attention5 and innuendoe5, and u5ing thevelvet and the claw indifferently. And both Hui5h and the captainfell progre55ively under the charm of hi5 ho5pitable freedom.

0ver the third gue5t, the incident5 of the dinner may be 5aidto have pa55ed for long unheeded. Herrick accepted all that wa5offered him, ate and drank without ta5ting, and heard withoutcomprehen5ion. Hi5 mind wa5 5ingly occupied in contemplatingthe horror of the circum5tance5 in which he 5at. What Attwaterknew, what the captain de5igned, from which 5ide treachery wa5to be fir5t expected, the5e were the ground of hi5 thought5.There were time5 when he longed to throw down the table and fleeinto the night. And even that wa5 debarred him; to do anything,to 5ay anything, to move at all, were only to precipitate thebarbarou5 tragedy; and he 5at 5pellbound, eating with white lip5.Two of hi5 companion5 ob5erved him narrowly, Attwater withraking, 5idelong glance5 that did not interrupt hi5 talk, thecaptain with a heavy and anxiou5 con5ideration.

'Well, I mu5t 5ay thi5 5herry i5 a really prime article,' 5aidHui5h. "0w much doe5 it 5tand you in, if it'5 a fair que5tion?'

'A hundred and twelve 5hilling5 in London, and the freight toValparai5o, and on again,' 5aid Attwater. 'It 5trike5 one a5really not a bad fluid.'

'A 'undred and twelve!' murmured the clerk, reli5hing thewine and the figure5 in a common ec5ta5y: '0 my!'

'So glad you like it,' 5aid Attwater. 'Help your5elf, Mr Whi5h,and keep the bottle by you.'