Diamonds to Amsterdam by Manning Coles

Author:Manning Coles [Coles, Manning]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-07T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER X

KEY 545

HAMBLEDON went aboard the Koningen Emma at Tilbury, had an excellent dinner which finished with a slab of cheese the size of a month’s ration in England, and put off time till most of the passengers had gone to bed. He then strolled along to the purser’s office, showed his card to anticipate any natural doubts of his motives in asking questions, and explained that he would like, if possible, to identify a Professor Chard and a Mr. Lester who were said to have crossed to Rotterdam last Thursday night.

The purser turned to his books and said that Professor Chard and Mr. Lester had certainly done so. They occupied cabins numbered 31 and 32 on A deck, two single adjacent cabins. He did not remember the two gentlemen with any distinctness; was there anything remarkable about them?

Hambledon said well, no, not in appearance anyway, and described both of them. The purser said that he could not recall them particularly; no doubt they had merely complied with the formalities at his office and passed on; they had not entered into any conversation with him. Perhaps the cabin steward would be able to answer more definitely.

The cabin steward, having been sent for, said that he did remember the two gentlemen. The Professor had thick curly hair, a beard to match, and a loud merry laugh. The other gentleman was more ordinary. They did not do anything unusual; they just retired at a normal time, were called with cups of tea in the morning, packed their bags, and went ashore. The Professor called the other man Lester.

Hambledon thanked him, the cabin steward went back on duty, and the purser said that if any more information was required possibly the dining saloon or lounge staffs could supply it. Hambledon said that he thought he need not bother them since the cabin steward had, without prompting, described Professor Chard accurately enough. He offered the purser a cigarette, which was declined as he smoked only cigars, and was preparing to yarn about this and that for half an hour before turning in when the purser said that the only passengers who made any impression on his mind last Thursday night were seven Englishmen of various ages who said that they were the Black Hamburg Darts Team having their annual outing.

“Black Hamburg?” said Tommy.

“It is, perhaps, the name of a public house or some meeting place of that kind?” said the purser.

“It’s a fowl,” said Hambledon.

“Foul?” said the purser, who spoke English very well, though it was plainly not his native tongue, which was Dutch.

“Bird. The kind you eat. An odd name for a darts club. But there are so many that some of them must have funny names.”

“That is so. These men—they travelled second class—they were you say whooping it up, do you not?”

“We do. Did they give any trouble?”

“No. Oh no, they were a little noisy at first, but they quietened down when asked to do so. They were a little excited, perhaps. It was their first trip abroad they tell everybody; they have been saving up for it.

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