Doctor Claudius, A True Story

s still running high, but there was no sound of water breaking over the bulwarks. He emerged from his deck-cabin, and took a sniff of the morning a

the officer with a chuckle, for he w

ting off with his bare feet over the wet de

broom, while the yellow-haired Norse 'prentice played the hose in front of them. Mr. Barker perceived that they would overtake him before long, and he determined on flight, not forward or aft, but aloft; and he leisurely lifted himself into the main-shrouds, and climbing half-way, hooked his feet through the ratlines. In this position he took out a cigar, lighted it with a vesuvia

He stopped a moment in astonishment, for this sort of diversion was the last thing he had given the American credit for. Besides, as Barker was to leeward, the rigging where he was perched stood almost perpendicular, and his position must have been a very uncomfortable one. Claudius was not given to jocularity as a rule, but he could not resist such a chance for astonishing a man who imagined himself to be enjoying an airy solitude between sky and wate

as well tell you my life is insured. If I catch cold

lly, for the Duke and Sturleson had met, and

ed again to the crosstrees. "I am going to put it on th

self round, and lying flat against the ratl

bawled the Du

ruck with my hat, and I say he c

el money," answered the

hree to two,

n't. Leve

red, then," answ

mb to the mast-head if he liked, but that he, Barker, was going down so as to have a better view; and he forthwith descended. All three stood leaning back against the weather bulwarks, craning their necks to see the better. Claudius

rds on the foremast, but there were no ratlines in the main topmast shrouds, which were set about ten feet below the mast-head. To th

tug of war,"

o it," said Bar

treak. The Doctor was one of those natural athletes whose strength does not diminish for lack of exercise, and large as he was, and tall, he was not so heavy as Barker thought. Now he pulle

id Barker. Claudius had s

his iron grip pressed deep into the wood. Slowly, slowly those last three feet were conquered, inch by inch, and the broad hand stole stealthily over the small

h captain, his sunburnt face glowing red with triumph

deed, man!" ba

r, "it was worth t

into the ladies' cabin had made Margaret long for a breath of fresh air; so that when Lady Victoria appeared, in all sorts of jersies and blue garments, fresh and ready for anything, the two had made common cause and ventured up the companion without any manly assistance. It chanced that they came out on the deck at the very moment when

care of himself, no doubt. My brother used

not have had her see him for worlds, and there she was, and she had evidently witnessed the whole affair. Befor

gs?" she said indignantly, h

bout it, Countess. But

d to the cuddy door, bowing to the ladies as he passed. He meant to beat a retreat to his c

id the voice that

steadying himself by the d

s chance between two seas. "Do you think you have a right to risk your life in such f

ked my life, Countess. I h

have a right to do such things

tedly seen me. I apologise most humbly to you and to Lady Victoria for having startled you;" he bowed to

f I am not there." She looked at him; he thought it strange. But he was annoyed at the whole busine

ledge myself never in future to ascend to the mast-head

t Claudius had seen his mistake, and there was no trace of irony

falling into the trap, had begun to tell the story from the beginning, speaking loud, by way of showing Claudius his appreciation. But Claudius, recking little of his laurels, went and sat in his cabin, pondering deeply. Barker, from a distance, had witnessed the conversation between Marga

d morning" without a smile. Barker immediately abandoned the subject and talked about the weather, which is a grand topic when there is enough of it. It was clear by this time that they had passed through a violent stor

considered a bit of unnecessary officiousness on the part of her host. However, he was such an old friend that she forgave him. But woman's nature is impatient of control. Left to herself she would have avoided Claudius; forcibly separated from him she discovered that she wanted to speak to him. As the day wore on and the Duke's attentions never relaxed, she grew nervous, and tried to think how she could send him away. It was no easy matter. If she asked for anything, he flew to get it and returned breathless, and of course at that very moment Claudius was just out of range. Then she called Miss Skeat, but the Duke's eloquence redoubled, and he talked to them both at once; and at last she gave it up in despair, and said she would lie down for a while. Once safe in her stateroom, the

ts, and refreshed himself with beer b

think I feel like winning your money to-day. I will go

Duke. "The Countess is gone to bed, and Miss S

Claudius, "you k

went out, making to himself the same reflection that Margaret had made, "Why is my friend so anxious to amuse me to-day?" He seldom paid any attention to such things, but his strong, clear mind was not long in

whom he despatched to see if the Countess were in the ladies' cabin. The rosy-cheeked, gray-haired priest of Silenus said her ladyship was there, "alone," he added with a little em

," he beg

uld see the evening light fall through the port-hole above him on her side face, and as

een you all d

e did not know wh

performance this morning?" Her voice was even a

akably the worse in that I disp

ve you," in t

ou will forgive me what I said

d, a little weariness sounding wi

," he said

say. You are just like all the others, and I thou

try to. Will you not tell m

dren, Dr. Claudius; let us speak plainly, and not misunderstand each other." She glanced round the cabin as if to see if they wer

I thought I had found in you a friend, a man who would be to me what no one has ever been-a friend; and I am disa

have broken out into a passionate expression of his love, seeking to kindle her with his own f

go-" she

go," he sa

u should go at once," was the femin

ago, and be as we were bef

nnot. You are not able to take

will let me be your friend, I will promise to obey you

repeated; and sh

ngth as he sat with folded hands and earnest face, awaiting her reply. His words were not eloquent, but they were plain and true, an

the door opened, and Lady Vi

id Lady

nd dress," s

o-morrow," said the Countess.

or the amusement of Claudius. Claudius sat quite still for an hour or more, perhaps enjoying the surprise he was going to give the Duke and Barker.

for the present. I am going to read with the C

ke bring up her rugs and things." His heavy moustache seemed to uncurl itself ne

y got a chance," h

e wheel, making conversation. He was telling her such a good story about a mutual friend-the son of a great

t. Just fancy, you know, we all knew her, and now she is married again to-" At this point

Shall we read?" The Doctor's face f

e said; and his long le

ey are living in some place in Italy." The Duke could hardly believe his eyes when Claudius boldly marched up with his chair and planted himself on Margaret's other side. She leaned back, looking st

d! I knew them both very well. Do you r

anything. This looked like business, and the Duke rose. He got away r

n with emphasis,

n saying it over to myself for a quarter of an hour,

re quite sure you apprecia

nly a few minutes ago. Claudiu

too," said the Duke

doubt that we are talki

eak all day yesterday, and now she asks him to come and read with her. Just as I was telling no end of a jolly story too."

e?" Then he swore, very slowly and

s not true that she has refused him, you ought to be very glad."

course I am very glad if she has not refused him." He smile

seeing, as y

suddenly he got up and said he was going to read with her. And you sa

e deck-in the middle of my story,

said Barker; "but that is not the qu

It was arranged between them some time yesterday. But I nev

m until you told me

ie down, then,

nd down," said Bark

e Duke, who did not like the

er when she did not want to be protected. And she will hate us for ever after.

ll go to your head. I never saw you so ang

snakes, and he thought of him at that moment. The steward appeared, and when the arrangements were made, the ocean in which Barker proposed to drown his cares

d Barker, returning to the conversation

apparently," s

a plan of actio

s all right. We have nothing more to d

you not?" asked the American. "Yes-very well,

marry him if she pleases. It is very proper that she should marry again; she has no children, and the Russian estates are gone to the next heir. I only wanted to save her from any inconvenience. I di

hat meant "you are certainly wrong." "But would Claudi

he widow of Alexis cannot command society? Besides,

said Mr. Barker, wi

d have said, "If I, a real, palpable, tangible, hereditary duke, do not know a gentleman when I s

om page to page, from paragraph to paragraph, from chapter to chapter. But soon the criticism became less close, the illustration more copious, the tongue more eloquent, and the glance less shy. The elective strength of their two hearts rose up and wrought mightily, saying, "We are made for each other, we understand each other, and these foolish mortals who carry us about in their bosoms shall not keep us apart." And to tell the truth, the foolish mortals made very little effort. Margaret did not believe that Claudius could possibly break his plighted word, and he knew that he would die rather than forfeit his faith. And so they sat side by side with the book, os

k!" exclaimed Lady Vict

y," said Barker, for he thought t

t was the day before, or the day after, the

s sea-sick," s

t then, and he was never

ick," said the other,

espite her marriage. "But really," she continued, "if I were going to write a novel I would put those two peopl

down to posterity by your pen, Lady

t think I would put you in my book. But then,

"the book would lose by

sked her

joke triumphantly. But Lady Victoria did not like Mr. Barker, or his jok

ly, "I daresay you are right. But he amuses

ith Barker, the fate of Claudius and Margaret as compared with the larger destinies of the Green Swash Mining Company were as the humble and unadorned mole-hill to the glories of the Himalaya. People had criticised the Duke's financial career in England. Why had he sold that snuffbox that Marie Therèse gave to his ancestor when-well, you know when? Why had he converted those worm-eaten manuscripts, whereon were traced many valuable things in a variety of ancient tongues, into coin of the realm? And why had he turned his Irish estates into pounds, into shillings, yea, and into pence. Pence-just think of it! He had sold his ancestral lands for pence; that was what it came to. These and many other things the scoffers scoffed, with a right good-will. But none save the Duke could tell how many broad

me to them, his bright quadrant, with its coloured glasses sticking out in all directions, in his hand, and told the Duke he thought that by to-morrow afternoon they would sight the Hook. The party were all together, as it happened, and there was a general shout, in which, however, Claudius joined but faintly. He longed for contrar

stitch of canvas was out-topsails, gaff-topsails, staysails, and jibs-and the good yacht bounded with a will to the bright west. But the dark woman looked a

ver," he sa

has been very ple

an pleasant. It has

e rudder through the dark-blue foam. Again Claudius spoke, softly, and it seemed to her

d-or the voice of the mighty deep w

or no. The sun sank down, and the magic after-glow sho

esently she unfolded them, and her fingers stole upwards and covered her face, and she bent her head. There was a mighty beating in Claudius's breast, and a thousand voices in the air cried to him to speak and to say what w

e truly and well. Keep it-keep it al

y lady," and he kissed

rging from the cuddy. "Upon my