ad hoped; and he had
advised Armadale to find a crew for the yacht without waiting for any
assistance on his part.

"All that it was necessary for me to do, on hearing this, was to perform
the promise I had made to Midwinter, when he gave me my directions how
to act in the matter. Armadale's vexation on finding me resolved not
to interfere expressed itself in the form of all others that is most
personally offensive to me. He declined to believe my reiterated
assurances that I possessed no influence to exert in his favor. 'If I
was married to Neelie,' he said, 'she could do anything she liked with
me; and I am sure, when you choose, you can do anything you like with
Midwinter.' If the infatuated fool had actually tried to stifle the last
faint struggles of remorse and pity left stirring in my heart, he could
have said nothing more fatally to the purpose than this! I gave him a
look which effectually silenced him, so far as I was concerned. He went
out of the room grumbling and growling to himself. 'It's all very well
to talk about manning the yacht. I don't speak a word of their gibberish
here; and the interpreter thinks a fisherman and a sailor means the
same thing. Hang me if I know what to do with the vessel, now I have got
her!'

"He will probably know by to-morrow. And if he only comes here as usual,
I shall know too!"

"October 25th.--Ten at night.--Manuel has got him!

"He has just left us, after staying here more than an hour, and talking
the whole time of nothing but his own wonderful luck in finding the very
help he wanted, at the time when he needed it most.

"At noon to-day he was on the Mole, it seems, with his interpreter,
trying vainly to make himself understood by the vagabond population
of the water-side. Just as he was giving it up in despair, a stranger
standing by (Manuel had followed him, I suppose, to the Mole from his
hotel) kindly interfered to put things right. He said, 'I speak your
language and their language, sir. I know Naples well; and I have been
professionally accustomed to the sea. Can I help you?' The inevitable
result followed. Armadale shifted all his difficulties on to the
shoulders of the polite stranger, in his usual helpless, headlong way.
His new friend, however, insisted, in the most honorable manner, on
complying with the customary formalities before he would consent to take
the matter into his own hands. He begged leave to wait on Mr. Armadale,
with his testimonials to