Part 27 (1/2)
He was about to answer that he was the steward, in spite of the obvious injustice of such a query, when the outer door leading to the deck was opened and the young man named Amos appeared with a tray of dishes. He stepped into the little pantry to set down his burden and then made a profound obeisance.
”Tch!” said the lady, ”Who is this?”
”The pantryman, Madama.”
”Tell him to fill my lamp with oil.”
”Your lamp, Madama?” quavered the steward. ”Is Madama in the Captain's room? I have not been told.”
Evanthia beckoned Amos and pointed down the stairs. ”The room on the right,” she said. ”Fill the lamp with oil and light it. Make the bed.
Go!”
She watched him descend.
”Now,” she said to the steward, ”is this the way you attend to pa.s.sengers? Bring me some meat. I am starving.”
”Yes, yes! In a moment, Madama.” He hurried to and fro, twisting the end seat for her to take it, das.h.i.+ng into his pantry and bringing out dishes, a cruet, a napkin. Evanthia seated herself and began to devour a piece of bread. She watched the steward as he moved to and fro.
”Where is the captain?” she asked.
”In his room, Madama. He has eaten and now he sleeps till midnight.”
”And the officer?”
”He is on the bridge, Madama.”
”Who eats here?”
”The officer and the engineer.”
”Is the Engineer English?”
”Maltese, Madama.”
The man spoke in low, respectful tones, his eyes flickering up and down as he sought to scan her features. This was most marvellous, he was thinking. The new chief officer brings a woman, a ravis.h.i.+ng creature, on board in secret. This explains the abuse of the morning. What would the captain say? He must tell Plouff. He had mentioned to Plouff the singular behaviour of the chief officer when he, the steward, had attempted to enter that gentleman's cabin. Plouff had laughed and pushed him out of the road. It was time to call Plouff to relieve the chief officer. He hurried to the galley to fetch the stew. He lifted the canvas flap which screened the lights from a seaward view and found Plouff seated in a corner talking to the cook.
”Hi, Jo,” he whispered, ”Madama on sheep! Madama on sheep! Yes.”
”What's the matter with you?” demanded Plouff disdainfully. ”What are you makin' that funny face for?”
”She come oop,” went on the steward with much dramatic ill.u.s.tration. ”I look, see Madama. You savvy? Very nice. Very beautiful.”
”Has she come out?” asked Plouff with interest.
”Yaas. She come oop.”
”I'll go up and tell the mate,” said Plouff. ”You savvy, Nicholas, plenty mon' if you look after her. Fix her up. The mate, you savvy?” and Mr. Plouff rubbed the sides of his two forefingers together, to indicate the tender relations existing between Mr. Spokesly and the lady.
”Oh, yaas, I savvy all right, Jo.” The steward writhed in his impotence to express the completeness of his comprehension, and hurried away.
Mr. Spokesly listened in silence to the news.