The dinner passed pleasantly. The three men, by an unspoken yet mutual consent, studiously avoided "shop," their conversation dwelling on ordinary every-day topics. All the same Hythe could not help noticing how conversant they both were with the latest plays, books, and the events that afford interest to the Man-about-Town.
After dinner Devoran left the cabin. The captain busied himself with writing, while Hythe, selecting a book from a small library, and lighting a cigar, sought the comfort of an easy chair.
For an hour Captain Restronguet wrote steadily. He seemed quite indifferent to his guest’s presence. Presently the sub found himself nodding over the book. He had been up early, and had had a trying and exciting day.
"What, nearly asleep!" exclaimed Captain Restronguet, as he set aside his papers and writing material. "But I forgot; you must be tired. Your bed is quite ready, so you can retire as soon as you wish."
Nothing loth Hythe bade his host good-night, and ten minutes later he was sound asleep in a comfortable bunk, ten fathoms beneath the surface of the River Tamar.
Captain Restronguet remained in his cabin till nearly ten o’clock, then, going into an adjoining dressing-room, he changed into his "duty clothes," donned a thick coat and india-rubber boots, and made his way for’ard to the diving-room in the fore compartment.
Here the men had unshipped the collapsible boat, but as yet it had not been unfolded.
"Are you going to bring her to the surface, sir?" asked Polglaze, seeing that his captain was in his great coat.
"Yes, I have decided to do so," replied Captain Restronguet. "Bring the boat under the upper hatchway, Lancarrow, and you, Gwennap, I want you to lay out a kedge up stream. See that the flukes engage in the rubble-work in the base of the centre-pier of the bridge, and run out another kedge aft."
Lancarrow and Gwennap promptly donned their diving suits and entered the "water-lock," taking with them the anchors and a length of stout Manila rope. Twenty minutes later they returned, the water dripping from their glistening garb.
"All correct, sir," reported Lancarrow, as soon as his headdress was removed. "Nothing short of the rope parting will set us adrift, and there’s precious little tide running now. I took good care to ram the fluke of the kedges well home."