hers were playing at dominoes and laughing like
children.

"If you will permit me," said their conductor, as Captain Barker
alighted, "I will conduct you as far as the Promenade of Audience.
Otherwise you will have to go with one of my comrades, and probably
with one who is ignorant of English."

Taking their consent for granted, he marched them past the sentries
and through the iron gates. A broad avenue of yews confronted them,
with a gravelled carriage-drive that stretched away till lost amid
interlacing boughs. A couple of gentlemen were advancing down this
avenue in brisk conversation. They were about to pass our friends
when the elder of the pair--an old gentleman in blue, with a ruddy
complexion and apoplectic neck--glanced up casually, uttered an
exclamation, and came to a halt.

Leaving his companion to stare, he advanced towards Captain Runacles
and saluted him with punctilio.

"This is a great pleasure," he observed in very good English.

"I'm very glad of that, sir," Captain Runacles answered, "though 'pon
my life I don't know why it should be."

"I have been expecting you."

"Indeed?"

"Will you be good enough to withdraw with me behind these yews, in
order that our conversation may not be observed from the lodge
windows?"

"Certainly, if you wish it."

The whole party followed him, much puzzled. He led them between a
couple of gigantic trees, glanced around him, and asked suddenly:

"The young man, I presume, gave you my message?"

"Now, what in the world--" began Captain Runacles with a bewildered
stare. But the little hunchback was quicker.

"What young man, sir?" he cried sharply. "Do you mean Tristram
Salt?"

"I really don't know his name; but he was accompanied, to be sure, by
a Captain Salt when I met him at Vlaardingen."

Captain Barker groaned.

"But excuse me," pursued the old gentleman in blue, still addressing
Captain Runacles, "I spoke not only of a young man, but of a message.
Did he deliver it?"

"If you mean Tristram Salt, I have not clapped eyes on him since the
1st of May last."

"Then I will deliver it myself. You do not appear to know me--"

"Not from Adam."

"My name is Cornelius van Adrienssen, and you, Captain Runacles, once
flung a boot at my head."

"Did I, indeed! It was in a moment of extreme irritation, no doubt."

"We were engaged off the Texel--June the 5th, '71, was the date.
You were on board the _Galloper_, I on the _Zeelandshoop_.
Ni