Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/189

 Dartmouth or Torquay. I wish I could take a header there to-morrow morning."

"You have abandoned the idea of the coastguard station, then?"

"Abandoned it? Not likely, with the example of that incessant marine battle before me. No; to-morrow will be your busy day. I have already discovered that there is a train for London at eight o'clock in the morning, with a restaurant-car. It will land you at Paddington at one-thirty, just after you have consumed an excellent Great Western lunch. You will take a taxi to the office of Berkim and Duncannon, Old Jewry. Ask them to get in touch with the Government, and buy for me the freehold of Lannacombe coastguard station, getting the deal through as quickly as possible.

"Then take train to Southampton, and call on the captain of my yacht, which you will order him to transform into a cargo steamer. Find the best house-fitting emporium in the town, and purchase an equipment complete for five bedrooms, two drawing-rooms, and a kitchen. Put all this on the yacht, telling the captain to land the goods at Lannacombe Bay, if the weather is fine; if not, to push on to Salcombe Harbour and await further orders. You may then return to London."