iament or historical
sense. A little oldish--I meant that, my lord.'

'I may be an old man in one sense or in another sense in your mind; but
let me tell you there are men older than I--'

'Yes, so there are, my lord.'

'People may call me what they please, and you may be impertinent enough
to repeat to me what they say, but let me tell you I am not a very old
man after all. I am not an old man.'

'Old in knowledge of the world I meant, my lord, not in years.'

'Well, yes. Experience of course I cannot be without. And I like what
is beautiful. Tipman, you must go to Knollsea; don't send, but go
yourself, as I wish nobody else to be concerned in this. Go to Knollsea,
and find out when the steamboat for Cherbourg starts; and when you have
done that, I shall want you to send Taylor to me. I wish Captain Strong
to bring the Fawn round into Knollsea Bay. Next week I may want you to
go to Cherbourg in the yacht with me--if the Channel is pretty calm--and
then perhaps to Rouen and Paris. But I will speak of that to-morrow.'

'Very good, my lord.'

'Meanwhile I recommend that you and Mrs. Menlove repeat nothing you may
have heard concerning the lady you just now spoke of. Here is a slight
present for Mrs. Menlove; and accept this for yourself.' He handed
money.

'Your lordship may be sure we will not,' the valet replied.

33. THE ENGLISH CHANNEL--NORMANDY

On Monday morning the little steamer Speedwell made her appearance round
the promontory by Knollsea Bay, to take in passengers for the transit to
Cherbourg. Breezes the freshest that could blow without verging on
keenness flew over the quivering deeps and shallows; and the sunbeams
pierced every detail of barrow, path and rabbit-run upon the lofty
convexity of down and waste which shut in Knollsea from the world to the
west.

They left the pier at eight o'clock, taking at first a short easterly
course to avoid a sinister ledge of limestones jutting from the water
like crocodile's teeth, which first obtained notoriety in English history
through being the spot whereon a formidable Danish fleet went to pieces a
thousand years ago. At the moment that the Speedwell turned to enter
upon the direct course, a schooner-yacht, whose sheets gleamed like
bridal satin, loosed from a remoter part of the bay; continuing to bear
off, she cut across the steamer's wake, and took a course almost due
southerly, which was precisely that of the Speedwell. The win