match I gathered from the dresses that they were stevedores, newly come, no doubt, from unloading some vessel. But my attention was taken off them unexpectedly by a great flare that went up into the sky apparently in mid-channel. It made a big bright flame, quite unusual in that resort of silent lights, and one of the stevedores commented on it. 

 "That'll be her," he said; "she was coming up round the Dogs in a la-di-da fashion. Maybe she'll fly rockets in another minute." 

 "Them steam-yachts are the jockeys to blue the money," responded his companion. "Nothink's good enough for them." 

 "What is it?" I asked. 

 "Only a Geordie brig straight from winning the America Cup, sir," said the first man with a facetious smile. "What did they make her out, Bill?" 

 Bill hesitated. "I think it was the Sea Queen," he said doubtfully, and added, in harmony with his companion's mood: 

 "They don't want to make themselves known, not by a long chalk." 

 With which, the flare having died down, they tramped away into the night with a civil leave-taking. 

 I followed them presently, moving along the road in the direction of the docks. When I reached the entrance I paused, and the gatekeeper addressed me. 

 "Going in, doctor? Got a call?" 

 I recognised him in the dimness of his lamp as a man whom I had attended for an accident, and I gave him good evening. 

 "No," said I, "but I want some air. I think I will, if you don't mind." 

 "Welcome, sir," said he cheerily, and I found myself on the other side of the gateway. 

 I walked along the vacant stretch of ground, lit only by dull gas-lamps, and, passing the low office buildings and storing sheds, came out by the water-basins. Here was a scene of some bustle and disorder, but it was farther on that the spectators were engaged in a knot, for the caisson was drifting round, and a handsome vessel was floating in, her funnel backed against the grey darkness and her spars in a ghostly silhouette. The name I heard on several sides roused in me a faint curiosity. It was the stranger I had observed, the Sea Queen, the subject of the stevedores' pleasantries. 

 "A pretty boat," said I to my neighbour. "What is she?" 

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