He simply said to me: "Everything is rotten.

Go to hell, and shut the door after you!" His man, who seems a very decent little fellow, though he is as vain as a peacock, and speaks with a Cockney accent which is simply terrible, came down the passage after me, and explained "on his own," as he expressed it, that his master, "Mr.Ernest," was upset by the long journey, and that I was not to mind.

I did not wish to make him uncomfortable, so I explained that I minded nothing except what Your Honour wished; that the steam-yacht would be ready at 7 a.m.; and that I should be waiting in the hotel from that time on till Mr.
Melton cared to start, to bring him aboard.
In the morning I waited till the man Jenkinson came and told me that Mr.Ernest would start at ten.

I asked if he would breakfast on board; he answered that he would take his _cafe-complet_ at the hotel, but breakfast on board.
We left at ten, and took the electric pinnace out to the _Trent_, which lay, with steam up, in the roads.

Breakfast was served on board, by his orders, and presently he came up on the bridge, where I was in command.