A STORY OF CATTLEYA MOSSIAE 47 



travel by goods train. Arnold had not allowed himself 

 time to spare. The Royal mail steamer would leave within 

 an hour of his arrival at Southampton ; to go without his 

 moss was useless ; and a pig-headed official refused to pass 

 it ! Mr.^ Arnold does not profess to be meek. He remon- 

 strated with so much energy that the station-master fled the 

 scene. There was just time enough to load up the article in 

 dispute and jump into a carriage, helped by a friendly 

 stranger. 



The stranger had showed his friendliness before that. 

 Standing at the open door, he supported Arnold's cause with 

 singular warmth and vociferation. The latter was grateful, 

 of course, and when he learned that his ally was a fellow- 

 passenger to Caracas he expressed the hope that they might 

 share a cabin. There was no difficulty about that. In 

 short, they chummed. 



This young man announced himself as Mr. Thompson, 

 a traveller in the hardware line, but he showed an intelligent 

 curiosity about things in general — about orchids, for instance, 

 when he learned that such was Arnold's business. Would 

 it be possible for an ignoramus to make a few pounds that 

 way ? — how should he set about it ? — which is the class of 

 article most in demand just now, and where is it found.? 

 Before the voyage ended, that traveller in the hardware line 

 knew as much about Masdevallia Tovarensis as Arnold 

 could tell him. He bade goodbye aboard ship, for pressing 

 business obliged him to start up country forthwith. 



Late in the afternoon Arnold, who was to stay some 

 days at Caracas, met his agent on the Plaza. ' By the bye,' 

 said that gentleman, ' are you aware that Mr. Blank started 

 this morning in the direction of Tovar.? ' 



Now Mr. Blank was a man of substance who began 

 orchid-growing as an amateur, but of late had turned pro- 

 fessional. 



