r that feel so
strong a dislike to the man as I had done before. "We do not wish
to make ourselves disagreeable to you, Mr Neverbend." I shrugged my
shoulders. "Unnecessarily disagreeable, I should have said. You are
a man of your word." Here I bowed to him. "If you will give us your
promise to meet Captain Battleax here at this time to-morrow, we
will stretch a point and delay the departure of the John Bright for
twenty-four hours." To this again I objected violently; and at last,
as an extreme favour, two entire days were allowed for my departure.

The craft of men versed in the affairs of the old Eastern world
is notorious. I afterwards learned that the stokers on board the
ship were only pretending to get up their fires, and the sailors
pretending to weigh their anchors, in order that their operations
might be visible, and that I might suppose that I had received a
great favour from my enemies' hands. And this plan was adopted, too,
in order to extract from me a promise that I would depart in peace.
At any rate, I did make the promise, and gave these two gentlemen my
word that I would be present there in my own room in the executive
chambers at the same hour on the day but one following.

"And now," said Sir Ferdinando, "that this matter is settled between
us, allow me most cordially to shake you by the hand, and to express
my great admiration for your character. I cannot say that I agree
with you in theory as to the Fixed Period,--my wife and children
could not, I am sure, endure to see me led away when a certain day
should come,--but I can understand that much may be said on the
point, and I admire greatly the eloquence and energy which you have
devoted to the matter. I shall be happy to meet you here at any hour
to-morrow, and to receive the Britannulan archives from your hands.
You, Mr Neverbend, will always be regarded as the father of your
country--

'Roma patrem patriae Ciceronem libera dixit.'"

With this the two gentlemen left the room.

CHAPTER X.

THE TOWN-HALL.

When I went home and told them what was to be done, they were of
course surprised, but apparently not very unhappy. Mrs Neverbend
suggested that she should accompany me, so as to look after my linen
and other personal comforts. But I told her, whether truly or not I
hardly then knew, that there would be no room for her on board a ship
of war such as the John Bright. Since I have lived on board her, I
have become aware tha