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 Duke drew a long breath, and went in search of Mr.Barker.Now Mr.Barker, in consequence of the idea that had unfolded itself to his fertile brain in the darkness of night, had been making efforts to amuse Claudius all day long, with as much determination as the Duke had shown in devoting himself to the Countess, but with greater success; for Barker could be very amusing when he chose, whereas the Duke was generally most amusing when he did not wish to be so.

He found them in the smoking cabin, Claudius stretched at full length with a cigarette in his teeth, and Barker seated apparently on the table, the chair, and the transom, by a clever distribution of the various parts of his body, spinning yarns of a high Western flavour about death's-head editors and mosquitoes with brass ribs.
The Duke was exhausted with his efforts, and refreshed himself with beer before he challenged Barker to a game.
"To tell the truth, Duke," he answered, "I don't seem to think I feel like winning your money to-day.

I will go and talk to the ladies, and Claudius will play with you." "You won't make much headway there," said the Duke.