y the
small bags are of any consequence."

"Have you anything more to say? I want to get a bath and my breakfast"

"I 've a lot more to say, and I shall have to tell Sir Joseph you 're
here! and I shall have to sign your time bill, and to see if we have n't
got something for Naples. You 're for Naples, ain't you? And I want to
send Darner some cigars and a pot of caviare that's been here these two
months, and that he must have smelled from Naples."

"Then be hasty, for heaven's sake, for I'm starving."

"You're starving! How strange, and it's only eight o'clock! Why, we
don't breakfast here till one, and I rarely eat anything."

"So much the worse for you," said Tony, gruffly. "My appetite is
excellent, if I only had a chance to gratify it."

"What's the news in town,--is there anything stirring?"

"Not that _I_ know."

"Has Lumley engaged Teresina again?"

"Never heard of her."

"He ought; tell him _I_ said so. She's fifty times better than La
Gradina. Our _chef_ here," added he, in a whisper, "says she has better
legs than Pochini."

"I am charmed to hear it. Would you just tell him that mine are getting
very tired here?"

"Will Lawson pay that handicap to George Hobart?"

Tony shook his head to imply total ignorance of all concerned.

"He needn't, you know; at least, Saville Harris refused to book up to
Whitemare on exactly the same grounds. It was just this way: here was
the winning-post--no, here; that seal there was the grand stand; when
the mare came up, she was second. I don't think you care for racing,
eh?"

"A steeple-chase; yes, particularly when I'm a rider. But what I care
most for just now is a plunge into cold water and a good breakfast."

There was something actually touching in the commiserating look the
attache gave Tony as he turned away and left the room. What was the
public service to come to if these were the fellows to be named as
messengers?

In a very few minutes he was back again in the room. "Where's Naples?"
asked he, curtly.

"Where's Naples? Where it always was, I suppose," said Tony,
doggedly,--"in the Gulf of that name."

"I mean the bag,--the Naples bag: it is under flying seal, and Sir
Joseph wants to see the despatches."

"Oh, that is below in the cab. I 'll go down and fetch it;" and without
waiting for more, he hastened downstairs. The cab was gone. "Naturally
enough," thought Tony, "he got tired waiting; he's off to order
breakfast."

He hurried upstairs