ect of spirited adventures,
although Paddy made some complaints because there was no chance of a
great ogre whom he could assail. He wished to destroy a few giants in
order to prove his loyalty to the cause. However, I soothed him out of
this mood, showing him where he was mistaken, and presently we were
all prepared and only waited for the coming of Doctor Chord.

When the little philosopher appeared, however, I must truly say that I
fell back a-gasping. He had tied some sort of a red turban about his
head, and pulled a black cocked hat down over it until his left eye
was wickedly shaded. From beneath his sombre cloak a heavy scabbard
protruded. "I have come; I am ready," said he in a deep voice.

"Bedad, you have!" cried I, sinking into a chair. "And why didn't a mob
hang you on the road, little man? How did you reach here safely? London
surely never could stand two glimpses of such a dangerous-looking
pirate. You would give a sedan-chair the vapours."

He looked himself over ruefully. "'Tis a garb befitting the dangerous
adventure upon which I engaged," said he, somewhat stiff in the lip.

"But let me make known to you," I cried, "that when a man wears a garb
befitting his adventure he fails surely. He should wear something
extraneous. When you wish to do something evil, you put on the coat of
a parson. That is the clever way. But here you are looking like a
gallows-bird of the greatest claim for the rope. Stop it; take off
the red thing, tilt your hat until you look like a gentleman, and let
us go to our adventure respectably."

"I was never more surprised in my life," said he sincerely. "I thought
I was doing a right thing in thus arraying myself for an experience
which cannot fail to be thrilling and mayhap deadly. However, I see
you in your accustomed attire, and in the apparel of your men-servants
I see no great change from yesterday. May I again suggest to you that
the adventure upon which we proceed may be fraught with much danger?"

"A red rag around your temples marks no improvement in our risks," said
I. "We will sally out as if we were off to a tea-party. When my father
led the forlorn hope at the storming of Wuerstenhausenstaffenberg, he
wore a lace collar, and he was a man who understood these matters. And I
may say that I wish he was here. He would be a great help."

In time the Doctor removed his red turban and gradually and sadly
emerged from the more sanguine part of his paraphernalia and appea