ind connected with this affair; but let me assure you it would be
premature of me to tell you of it."

"Premature be d----d!" said the admiral; "out with it."

"Nay, nay, dear sir; I am not now in a position to say what is passing
through my mind."

"Alter your position, then, and be blowed!" cried Jack Pringle, suddenly
stepping forward, and giving the doctor such a push, that he nearly went
through one of the sides of the summer-house.

"Why, you scoundrel!" cried the admiral, "how came you here?"

"On my legs," said Jack. "Do you think nobody wants to know nothing but
yourself? I'm as fond of a yarn as anybody."

"But if you are," said Mr. Chillingworth, "you had no occasion to come
against me as if you wanted to move a house."

"You said as you wasn't in a position to say something as I wanted to
hear, so I thought I'd alter it for you."

"Is this fellow," said the doctor, shaking his head, as he accosted the
admiral, "the most artful or stupid?"

"A little of both," said Admiral Bell--"a little of both, doctor. He's a
great fool and a great scamp."

"The same to you," said Jack; "you're another. I shall hate you
presently, if you go on making yourself so ridiculous. Now, mind, I'll
only give you a trial of another week or so, and if you don't be more
purlite in your d--n language, I'll leave you."

Away strolled Jack, with his hands in his pockets, towards the house,
while the admiral was half choked with rage, and could only glare after
him, without the ability to say a word.

Under any other circumstances than the present one of trouble, and
difficulty; and deep anxiety, Henry Bannerworth must have laughed at
these singular little episodes between Jack and the admiral; but his
mind was now by far too much harassed to permit him to do so.

"Let him go, let him go, my dear sir," said Mr. Chillingworth to the
admiral, who showed some signs of an intention to pursue Jack; "he no
doubt has been drinking again."

"I'll turn him off the first moment I catch him sober enough to
understand me," said the admiral.

"Well, well; do as you please; but now let me ask a favour of both of
you."

"What is it?"

"That you will leave Bannerworth Hall to me for a week."

"What for?"

"I hope to make some discoveries connected with it which shall well
reward you for the trouble."

"It's no trouble," said Henry; "and for myself, I have amply sufficient
faith, both in your judgment and in your friendship, doct