Sounds of splashing and puffing ensued, and the steward going to the door saw him with his head under the tap.

He followed him in and at the right time handed him a towel.

Despite the disordered appearance of his hair the improvement in Mr.Nugent's condition was so manifest that the steward, hoping for similar results, turned the tap on again and followed his example.
"Your head wants cooling, I should think," said the young man, returning him the towel.

"What's it all about ?" Mr.Wilks hesitated; a bright thought occurred to him, and murmuring something about a dry towel he sped up the narrow stairs to his bedroom.
The captain was not there.

He pushed open the small lattice window and peered out into the alley; no sign of either the captain or the ingenious Mr.Nathan Smith.