The woodwork was painted the same greenish white as the outside,
but it was soiled and dingy, and the whole place looked dirty and
untidy. There was a smell of various oils, paraffin predominating.

"You take the port locker," Hilliard explained. "You see, the top
of it lifts and you can stow your things in it. When there are
only two of us we sleep on the lockers. You'll find a sheet and
blankets inside. There's a board underneath that turns up to keep
you in if she's rolling; not that we shall want it until we get to
the Mediterranean. I'm afraid," he went on, answering Merriman's
unspoken thought, "the place is not very tidy. I hadn't time to
do much squaring - I'll tell you about that later. I suppose"
- reluctantly - "we had better turn to and clean up a bit before
we go to bed. But" - brightening up again - "not now. Let's go
up town and get some dinner as soon as you are ready."

He fussed about, explaining with the loving and painstaking
minuteness of the designer as well as the owner, the various
contraptions the boat contained, and when he had finished,
Merriman felt that, could he but remember his instructions,
there were few situations with which he could not cope or by
which he could be taken unawares.

A few minutes later the two friends climbed once more up the
slippery steps, and, strolling slowly up the town, entered one of
the large restaurants in the Place de la Comedie.

Since Merriman's arrival Hilliard had talked vivaciously, and his
thin, hawk-like face had seemed even more eager than the wine