character and capacity. The same afternoon he
had come by appointment to the hotel, with all his papers, and with 'the
saddest story' of his sufferings and privations as 'a political refugee'
that Armadale had ever heard. The interview was decisive. Manuel left
the hotel, commissioned to find a crew for the yacht, and to fill the
post of sailing-master on the trial cruise.

"I watched Midwinter anxiously, while Armadale was telling us these
particulars, and afterward, when he produced the new sailing-master's
testimonials, which he had brought with him for his friend to see.

"For the moment, Midwinter's superstitious misgivings seemed to be all
lost in his natural anxiety for his friend. He examined the stranger's
papers--after having told me that the sooner Armadale was in the
hands of strangers the better!--with the closest scrutiny and the most
business-like distrust. It is needless to say that the credentials were
as perfectly regular and satisfactory as credentials could be. When
Midwinter handed them back, his color rose: he seemed to feel the
inconsistency of his conduct, and to observe for the first time that
I was present noticing it. 'There is nothing to object to in the
testimonials, Allan: I am glad you have got the help you want at last.'
That was all he said at parting. As soon as Armadale's back was turned,
I saw no more of him. He has locked himself up again for the night, in
his own room.

"There is now--so far as I am concerned--but one anxiety left. When the
yacht is ready for sea, and when I decline to occupy the lady's cabin,
will Midwinter hold to his resolution, and refuse to sail without me?"

"October 26th.--Warnings already of the coming ordeal. A letter from
Armadale to Midwinter, which Midwinter has just sent in to me. Here it
is:

"'DEAR MID--I am too busy to come to-day. Get on with your work, for
Heaven's sake! The new sailing-master is a man of ten thousand. He has
got an Englishman whom he knows to serve as mate on board already; and
he is positively certain of getting the crew together in three or four
days' time. I am dying for a whiff of the sea, and so are you, or you
are no sailor. The rigging is set up, the stores are coming on board,
and we shall bend the sails to-morrow or next day. I never was in such
spirits in my life. Remember me to your wife, and tell her she will
be doing me a favor if she will come at once, and order everything she
wants in the lady's cabin. Yours