Part 31 (1/2)

While the conversation had been going on, the boys had continued their toilettes. The preparation which they had obtained gave them an olive complexion; and their transformation was now so complete that the boys would have pa.s.sed each other unknown, even had they looked steadily at each other. Ralph, especially, was utterly unlike himself.

They now told Tim to go out and get his breakfast, and to return in two hours' time; and then started themselves, rounding their shoulders, and so narrowing their chests as much as possible. Ralph stopped at an optician's, bought a pair of slightly-colored spectacles, and put them on.

It was now twelve o'clock--the preparations having taken them three hours--and they went to the cafe where they were to meet Colonel Tempe, to breakfast. He was already there, and they walked up to the table where he was sitting.

”These seats are engaged,” Colonel Tempe said, shortly.

The Barclays sat down at the next table; and called, in a foreign accent, for two gla.s.ses of beer. Then they spoke together, for some little time, about a journey from Saint Malo which they had just made; and Ralph then turned to Colonel Tempe, still speaking French with a strong foreign accent.

”Pardon me, colonel,” he said, ”we have just arrived from England.

We have a very large quant.i.ty of army shoes, and I should feel under a great obligation if you could inform me who is the proper person to whom to apply.”

Colonel Tempe at once informed them, adding:

”If your shoes are good ones, and the price fair, and you can deliver them soon, you will not have to wait long; for they are greatly wanted.”

”We have also some harness, for artillery horses,” Ralph added.

”I do not know about that,” the colonel said; ”but you will obtain all information from the officer I have mentioned.”

”Thank you very much,” Ralph said, and returned to his seat.

Colonel Tempe looked at his watch, a little impatiently. Ralph, after a minute or two, again approached him.

”Don't you think we may as well have breakfast, colonel?” he said, in his natural voice.

The colonel looked at him, in speechless surprise.

”So the disguises are pretty good?” Ralph said, smiling.

”Impossible!” the colonel exclaimed. ”Do my eyes or my ears deceive me? Can it really be--?”

”It's us, sure enough, colonel; and now, I suppose we may as well sit down.”

So saying, the boys took their seats at the table; but Colonel Tempe still looked from one to the other, in astonishment.

”Wonderful!” he at last said, ”wonderful! Even now I know who it is, I do not see the faintest possible resemblance.

”Percy is, of course, less altered than you are, Ralph, because he is still young looking; but even now I should not recognize him. As for you, with that wonderful head of hair, and that beard, you look fifty; and as unlike yourself as possible. Upon my word, if it were anywhere else but here in Tours--where there are all sorts of oddities--I should be ashamed, as a colonel in the army, to sit down to table with you.”

”You are a little ashamed, as it is,” Ralph laughed. ”We had not intended to come out in our new character, so soon; but when my hair was once done, you see, it was impossible to go about in uniform.”

”But what in the world have you done with your hair?” the colonel said, examining him closely; for Ralph had taken off his fur cap and laid it beside him. ”You have not got a wig on; and yet, all that frizzly bunch cannot be your own.”

Ralph explained how it was managed, and added:

”And now, colonel, that you have recovered from your surprise, let us have breakfast.”

Breakfast was ordered, to which the boys did full justice; but Colonel Tempe was still getting on but slowly, for he could not take his eyes off Ralph's face.