Lord Loveland Discovers America

								

it'll be a bore, especially till I get used to it again."
Thus the pink pearl money was apportioned, a little here and a little
there, and made to go as far as possible.
Foxham stopped with his lordship till after the return to London, doing
the final packing, and all his ordinary work as usual, without a greedy
word as to arrears of wages. Perhaps this was due to an angelic
disposition; or perhaps he guessed the motive of his master's errand,
and was willing to speculate on the result. But Loveland took the man's
devotion for granted, without going too deeply into causes.
On getting back to his quarters near Wellington Barracks, Val was
somewhat surprised to receive a visit from Harborough, who had never
come to call on him before.
"So you've got your leave, I hear, and are sailing for my blessed
country in a few days," Jim remarked.
Loveland replied that this was the case, and happened to think of
thanking Jim for his letters of introduction.
Harborough answered casually that that was all right; and went on to say
that he had read in a paper, or heard from a man, that Loveland had
taken his passage on the Baltic.
"Yes," said Val. "I wanted to go over on a good ship."
"Well, the Baltic's a ripping one--couldn't be a better," Jim
admitted. "But I should have thought you'd have the curiosity to try the
newest thing."
"The Mauretania?" said Loveland. "Don't suppose I could have got a
passage on her for the next three or four trips across."
"Perhaps you couldn't," said Jim. "But I can get you one."
"Why, she sails tomorrow, doesn't she?" asked Val.
"Yes," said Jim, "but you can go on her if you like, with a good cabin
too, all to yourself."
"My passage is paid for on the Baltic, and my name's on her passenger
list," said Loveland.
"Well, it's too late to have your name printed on the Mauretania's
passenger list, or perhaps to get back your money for the Baltic,"
said Jim, "but that needn't stand in your way. You won't have to pay for
your cabin on the Mauretania. It's going begging. A friend of mine who
can't sail has given his ticket to me, to do with as I like; but as he's
a man whose movements make things in Wall Street jump up and down like a
see-saw, he doesn't want it known that he's got to stay behind because
he's seedy. That's all. If you want to go in his place, go, and say
nothing till you get on the other side. By that time he'll be on his
way, on a following ship. At least, that's what he hopes."
"Do you mean, that if I want to cross in the Mauretania, I must pass
under your friend's name?" asked Loveland, beginning to look haughty;
for though he was tempted by the offer, he did not think that another
man's name was worthy of his wearing even for five days. He would as
willingly have appeared in Bond Street in a second-hand, ready-made
coat.
"Oh no, nothing of the sort," answered Jim Harborough, smiling his