Ian Hay

“ Chubb at the other end, in providing the passengers with a real sensation just at the dullest period of the voyage.
It was to Mrs. Link that Percy, the Purser, first communicated his savory morsel of news. She listened with bated breath and gratifying alarm.
“You don't say!” she exclaimed. “Oh, Mr. Chubb!” Then: “Is he among the cabin passengers, do you think?”
“That I don't know,” replied the purser judicially. “But if he's a regular swell mobsman, as he is said to be, it's likely enough. On the other hand he may have considered it wiser to travel second-class or even steerage. ”

“ Chubb, with intense and solemn relish, “is Inspector Killick, of Scotland Yard!”
“And has he arrested Mr. Pettigrew?” asked Mrs. Link breathlessly. She was a little pale. Evidently Mr. Pettigrew had not entirely failed to make an impression.
“Well, he's detained him on suspicion, at any rate. So friend Pettigrew is Mike Tilney. He's the very last——”
Mrs. Link broke in.
“Mr. Chubb, it's nonsense! That poor, innocent, blundering creature! Why, he can't be the man. Run quick and tell them that he's a respectable passenger—as respectable as—as I am. Hurry!” ”

“ The status of the purser on board an ocean-going passenger steamer varies inversely with the social proclivities of the captain. If that potentate includes among his characteristics a fondness for light conversation and female society, he gathers together the élite of the passengers at his own table at dinner, and holds levees on the upper bridge in the afternoons; with the result that the purser's opportunities of making himself agreeable are limited to changing greenbacks for sovereigns, and receiving complaints about the quality of the wine. ”

“ A Scot does not usually make love unless his intentions are serious, and after two days of portentous hovering and agonized effort Mr. Pettigrew descended upon Mrs. Link's encampment, and, unceremoniously pushing by the others, handed her a box of chocolates which he had been seen purchasing from one of the stewards thirty-six hours before. He then asked Mrs. Link whether she felt sufficiently warm, and on receiving a demure affirmative, delivered a few helpful and intimate remarks upon the subject of what to wear next the skin, and, finally, unslinging a Thermos flask from his. ”

“ Killick's steady gaze had been directed almost continuously upon the doorway through which the passengers were filing out to the station. He had not studied human nature for twenty-five years for nothing, and he knew only too well the difficulty of piercing a disguise when its wearer is a consummate master of facial variety. But however carefully the actor may practice his expression and pose, it is very difficult for him to control his back view. ”

“ Killick shook his head.
“Seen nobody like him yet,” he said. “He is a terror at faking himself. I've seen him four times in the last seven years, to my knowledge, and he's never been the same man twice. Well, that's all the saloon passengers, The second class and steerage can keep till these two trains get off. Let's try the customs shed.” ”

“ From which the thunderbolt will break long and loud
After luncheon, Liverpool being in sight, the purser took Mrs. Link to the forward part of the ship for the purpose of exhibiting to her his native land. Here they stayed for close on an hour, watching the cosmopolitan crowd of steerage passengers, who were being marshaled for their coming inspection by the port authorities. Presently they were on the Mersey, and it became obvious to the gallant Percy that he might now safely relax his vigil for a time and devote his energies to work for which he was paid. ”

“ Chubb, who had no idea, replied importantly:
“I expect some of the smartest men from Scotland Yard will be at the landing stage to meet us—men who know Tilney well by sight. They will probably nab him.”
“Well, even if they don't get Mr. Mike Tilney they may get the jewels,” said Mrs. Link. “I guess the customs people will keep their eyes skinned.”
“Perhaps he sent the jewels off at Queenstown,” suggested some one.
“It's not likely,” said Chubb. “That mail would be very carefully scrutinized. He'll have to get his little haul off the ship at Liverpool, or not at all. ”

“ They were chiefly males—their wives were down below, engaged in the hopeless task of endeavoring to intimidate stewardesses—and the trim figure and flying feet of the girl—she was little more—attracted their untrammeled admiration. ”

“ Could she get around to parties, at all? Did Mr. Chubb live in the vicinity? If not, had he friends there? Mr. Chubb, whose wife and family dwelt in the outskirts of Birkenhead, changed the subject, and suggested that Mrs. Link might be more comfortable at his table in the saloon than at the captain's. The lady acquiesced—acquiescence might be described as her forte—and the second evening of her voyage saw her reft from a not altogether inconsolable captain, and confided to the assiduous chaperonage of Percy the Purser. ”

“ Link, “for I haven't had such a thing since these frocks came in.”
“They'll be careful, I am sure,” said Mr. Chubb soothingly. “They'll go through the second class and steerage people pretty thoroughly, of course, but when it comes to cabin passengers they'll have to discriminate a bit. The company will see to that. They can't afford to have their most desirable patrons annoyed.” He turned an amorous and reassuring eye upon the fair Lollie, who blushed prettily,
Mr. Pettigrew had been taking little part in this conversation. ”

“ Mr. Chubb had better apply to Mrs. Bindleheim. Mrs. Bindleheim was the wife of a diamond merchant of Hatton Garden, London, and invested herself daily with a perfect panoply of jewels.
“That woman,” Mrs. Lollie added, “comes on deck every morning dressed like one of Tiffany's windows; and if Mr.—what is the gentleman's name?”
“Mike Tilney—alias Tom Gunning—alias Diamond Dick.”
“Well, if he gets his fingers into Mrs. Bindleheim's gripsack,” said Mrs. Lollie, not without relish, “I guess a few bushels of stones will stick to them. However, the sooner you find the gentleman, Mr. ”