An, an anonymous
letter, eh?"

The night air began to have a most unfortunate effect on Puffin. When
he came out it would have been quite unfair to have described him as
drunk. He was no more than gay and ready to go to bed. Now he became
portentously solemn, as the cold mist began to do its deadly work.

"A letter," he said impressively, "without an address is an uncommonly
dangerous thing. Hic! Can't tell into whose hands it may fall. I would
sooner go 'bout with a loaded pistol than with a letter without any
address. Send it to the bank for safety. Send for the police. Follow my
advice and send for the p'lice. Police!"

Miss Mapp's penetrating mind instantly perceived that that dreadful
Captain Puffin was drunk, and she promised herself that Tilling should
ring with the tale of his excesses to-morrow. But Major Benjy, whom, if
she mistook not, Captain Puffin had been trying, with perhaps some small
success, to lead astray, was a gallant gentleman still, and she
conceived the brilliant but madly mistaken idea of throwing herself on
his protection.

"Major Benjy," she said, "I will ask you to take me home. Captain Puffin
has had too much to drink----"

"Woz that?" asked Captain Puffin, with an air of great interest.

Miss Mapp abandoned dignity and pleasantness, and lost her temper.

"I said you were drunk," she said with great distinctness. "Major Benjy,
will you----"

Captain Puffin came carefully down the two steps from the door on to the
pavement.

"Look here," he said, "this all needs 'splanation. You say I'm drunk, do
you? Well, I say you're drunk, going out like this in mill' of the night
to post letter with no 'dress on it. Shamed of yourself, mill'aged woman
going out in the mill' of the night in the mill' of Tilling. Very
shocking thing. What do you say, Major?"

Major Benjy drew himself up to his full height, and put on his hat in
order to take it off to Miss Mapp.

"My fren' Cap'n Puffin," he said, "is a man of strictly 'stemious
habits. Boys together. Very serious thing to call a man of my fren's
character drunk. If you call him drunk, why shouldn't he call you drunk?
Can't take away man's character like that."

"Abso----" began Captain Puffin. Then he stopped and pulled himself
together.

"Absolooly," he said without a hitch.

"Tilling shall hear of this to-morrow," said Miss Mapp, shivering with
rage and sea-mist.

Captain Puffin came a step closer.

"Now I'll tell you what it is, M