Mr. Mole, for he it was who first
detected it.

"And I observed 'Which?' sir," said Jack.

"And why that unmeaning interrogation?" demanded Mr. Mole.

"Your speech is an anomaly, Mr. Mole," responded Jack, mimicking the
voice of his tutor in his happiest manner.

"Why so?"

"You say my question is unmeaning, and yet you ask an explanation of
it. If there is no meaning in it, how can I explain it?"

"Ahem!" coughed Mr. Mole. "No matter. You are too much given to useless
arguments, Jack. I believe you would argue with the doctor attending
you on your deathbed--yea, with the undertaker himself who had to bury
you."

"That's piling it on, sir," said Jack, in a half-reflective mood. "I
dare say I should have a shy at the doctor if he tried to prove
something too idiotic, but we must draw the line at the doctor. I
couldn't argue with the undertaker at my own funeral, but I'll tell you
what, Mr. Mole, no doubt I shall argue with him if he puts it on too
stiff in his bill when we put you away."

"Jack!" exclaimed Mr. Mole, inexpressibly shocked.

"A plain deal coffin," pursued Jack, apparently lost in deep
calculation; "an economical coffin, only half the length of an ordinary
coffin, because you could unscrew your legs, and leave them to
someone."

"That is very unfeeling to talk of my funeral, dreadful!"

"You are only joking there, I know, sir," returned Jack, "because you
were talking of mine."

"Ahem!" said Mole, "do you see how near we are to land?"

"Quite so, quite so."

"Go and ask the captain the name of this port."

It proved to be Marseilles, and the captain knew it, as he had been
sailing for it, and, moreover, they were very quickly ashore.

Mr. Mole was especially eager to air his French.

"You speak the language?" asked Jack.

Mr. Mole smiled superciliously at the question.

"Like a native, my dear boy, like a native," he replied.

"That's a good thing," said Jack, tipping the wink to Harry Girdwood;
"for you can interpret all round."

* * * *

France was then going through one of its periodical upsets, and a good
deal of unnecessary bother was made along the coast upon the landing of
passengers.

Passports were partly dispensed with, but questions were put by fierce
officials as to your name and nationality, which all led up to nothing,
for they accepted your reply implicitly as truth, and while it
inconvenienced the general public, the