’By wireless?  No; I took rather particular pains to stop that—­gets into the papers, only frightens the family and friends, who conclude things to be ten times worse than they are.  Plenty of time at Southampton.  Boat-express’ll take him home ahead of the scare?’

’Lives in Park Lane, doesn’t he?—­that big corner house like a game-pie? . . .  Ye-es, you were thoughtful, as usual. . . .  Only some one might have been down to the docks to meet him.  ’Wish I knew his doctor’s address.  Well, never mind—­I’ll fix him up so that he reaches Park Lane, anyway.’

‘He ought to do something for Rendal,’ mused Captain Holditch.

’He will, you bet, when his head is right—­that’s if a millionaire’s head is ever right,’ added the doctor, who held radical opinions on the distribution of wealth.

The captain ignored this.  He never talked politics even when ashore.

‘As plucky a rescue as ever I witnessed,’ he answered the doctor.  ’Yes, of course, I’ll spare the lad.  Slip a few clothes into his bag, and tell him he can get off by the first train.  Oh, and by the way, you might ask him if he’s all right for money; say he can draw on me if he wants any.’

The doctor took his message down to Dick Rendal; ’We’re this moment passing Hurst Castle,’ he announced cheerfully, ’and you may tumble out if you like.  But first I’m to pack a few clothes for you; if you let me, I’ll do it better than the steward.  Shore-going clothes, my boy—­where do you keep your cabin trunk?  Eh?  Suit-case, is it?—­ best leather, nickel locks—­no, silver, as I’m a sinner!  Hallo, my young friend!’—­here the doctor looked up, mischief in his eye—­ ’You never struck me as that sort of dude; and fathers and mothers don’t fit their offspring out with silver locks to their suit-cases—­ or they’ve altered since my time.  Well, you’ll enjoy your leave all the better; and give her my congratulations.  The Old Man says you may get off as soon as we’re docked, and stay home till you’ve recovered.  I dare say it won’t be long before you feel better,’ he wound up, with a glance at the suit-case.

‘The Old Man?  Yes—­yes—­Captain Holditch, of course,’ muttered Dick from his berth.

The doctor looked at him narrowly for a moment; but, when he spoke again, kept by intention the same easy rattling tone.

’Decent of him, eh?—­Yes, and by the way, he asked me to tell you that, if you shouldn’t happen to be flush of money just now, that needn’t hinder you five minutes.  He’ll be your banker, and make it right with the Board.’

Dick lay still for half a dozen seconds, as though the words took that time in reaching him.  Then he let out a short laugh from somewhere high on his nose.

‘My banker?  Will he?  Good Lord!’

‘May be,’ said the doctor, dryly; laying out a suit of mufti at the foot of the bed, ’the Old Man and I belong to the same date.  I’ve heard that youngsters save money nowadays.  But when I was your age that sort of offer would have hit the mark nine times out of ten.’