r. Morland--glasses and
side-whiskers."

"That would be Mr. Pye," I said.

"Very likely. Would you like to take a squint at the engines? Mr.
McCrae is on board."

He led me, without waiting for answer, towards the engine-room, and
called out, "Mr. McCrae!" which brought presently a little, red-faced,
bearded man from the depths. "This gentleman wants to know what you can
do," said my friend, by way of introduction. The engineer nodded
towards me. "We can make eighteen," he said, wiping his hands on a
greasy piece of rag. "Eighteen at a pinch, but I keep her going steady
at fourteen."

"A good boat!" said I.

"Aye, tolerable," he said, and pulled out a sheet of paper, which he
began to peruse under the slender light. "This now's another slap in
the eye for the Emperor," said McCrae, "this business of the Prince."

"What is it?" I asked. "I haven't seen the papers to-night."

He rapped his knuckles on the newspaper. "This Prince Frederic of
Hochburg kicking over the traces. I tell ye I'm real sorry for the old
man. I pity him, Emperor though he be. He's had his sup of troubles."

"But I don't understand what this new one is," I said.

McCrae was not above explaining. "Well, y'see, this Prince Frederic is
the heir to the Duchy of Hochburg, and he has taken up with some
singer, and swears he'll resign his inheritance and marry her. That's
where the mischief is. Not that the man's not right," proceeded the
Scotchman, warming, evidently, to his opinions. "For why should Princes
be exempt from the disposition of Providence. Let him come forward like
a man, and, ye'll see, he'll gain the univairsal sympathy of Europe for
his honesty."

"It certainly increases the Emperor's difficulties," I said. "For with
a vacancy at Hochburg, and the Pan-German movement in full swing----"

"Aye, ye're a student of political affairs," broke in the engineer in
his broad Glasgow accent. "And I'll not say there isn't something to be
said at the present juncture of European politics. But, man, the
principle's all wrong. Why is a man, no better than you or me, to ride
over us, whether it be riches, or kings, or emperors? It's the accident
of birth, and the accident of riches, that dictates to us, and I'm
thinking it ought to be set right by legislation."

"Well, we are getting along to the Millennium famously," said I,
jestingly.

"The Millennium!" he said, with a contemptuous snort.

I think Ellison was pleased to see us getting