in tones that might have roused a
main-deck, calling to the servants to bring down all his baggage to the
pavilion, to heat the bath, and send him some sherry and a sandwich.

"I see you 're getting ready for me, Raikes," said he, as the somewhat
nervous functionary appeared at the door.

"Well, indeed, Commodore Graham, these rooms are just taken."

"Taken! and by whom? Don't you know, and have n't you explained, that
they are always mine?"

"We thought up to this morning, Commodore, that you were not coming."

"Who are 'we,'--you and the housemaids, eh? Tell me who are 'we,' sir?"

"My mistress was greatly distressed, sir, at George's mistake, and she
sent him back late last night."

"Don't bother me about that. Who's here,--who has got my quarters, and
where is he? I suppose it's a man."

"It's a Mr. Norman Maitland."

"By George, I'd have sworn it!" cried the Commodore, getting purple
with passion. "I knew it before you spoke. Go in and say that Commodore
Graham would wish to speak with him."

"He has just lain down, sir; he said he did n't feel quite well, and
desired he mightn't be disturbed."

"He's not too ill to hear a message. Go in and say that Commodore Graham
wishes to have one word with him. Do you hear me, sir?"

A flash of the old man's eye and a tighter grasp of his cane--very
significant in their way--sent Mr. Raikes on his errand, from which,
after a few minutes, he came back, saying, in a low whisper, "He's
asleep, sir,--at least I think so; for the bedroom door is locked, and
his breathing comes very long."

"This is about the most barefaced, the most outrageously impudent--" He
stopped, checked by the presence of the servant, which he had totally
forgotten. "Take my traps back into the hall,--do you hear me?--the
hall."

"If you 'd allow me, sir, to show the yellow rooms upstairs, with the
bow window--"

"In the attics, I hope?"

"No, sir,--just over the mistress's own room on the second floor."

"I 'll save you that trouble, Mr. Raikes; send Corrie here, my
coachman,--send him here at once."

While Mr. Raikes went, or affected to go, towards the stables,--a
mission which his dignity secretly scorned,--the Commodore called out
after him, "And tell him to give the mare a double feed, and put on the
harness again,--do you hear me?--to put the harness on her."

Mr. Raikes bowed respectfully; but had the Commodore only seen his face,
he would have seen a look that said, "What I