Part 40 (1/2)

making believe he had ordered it.

”Merci, Madame!” replied he, for his wife had taught him a little French.

”One may sleep _mal a propos,_” muttered the woman in his ear. ”My man is at the fair, and there are people here who are not worth any great things.”

Dodd rubbed his eyes and saw those two foul faces at the end of the kitchen: for such it was, though called _salle a manger._ ”Humph!” said he; and instinctively b.u.t.toned his coat.

At that Thibout touched Moinard's knee under the table.

Fullalove came in soon after to say he had got two horses, and they would be here in a quarter of an hour.

”Well, but Vespasian? how is he to go?” inquired Dodd.

”Oh, we'll send him on ahead, and then ride and tie.”

”No, no,” said Dodd, ”I'll go ahead. That will shake me up. I think I should tumble off a horse; I'm so dead sleepy.”

Accordingly he started to walk on the road to Boulogne.

He had not been gone three minutes when Moinard sauntered out.

Moinard had not been gone two minutes when Thibout strolled out.

Moinard kept Dodd in sight and Thibout kept Moinard.

The horses were brought soon after, but unfortunately the pair did not start immediately, though, had they known it, every moment was precious.

They wasted time in argument. Vespasian had come down with a diamond ring in one ear, and a ruby in the other. Fullalove saw this retrograde step, and said grimly, ”Have you washed but half your face, or is this a return to savagery?”

Vespasian wore an air of offended dignity. ”No, sar; these yar decorations come off a lady ob i cibilisation: Missy Beresford donated 'em me. Says she, 'Ma.s.sah Black'--yah! yah! She always nick-nominates dis child Ma.s.sa Black--'while I was praying Goramighty for self and pickaninny, I seen you out of one corner of my eye admirationing my rings; den just you take 'em,' says dat ar aristocracy: 'for I don't admirationise 'em none: I've been s.h.i.+pwrecked.' So I took 'em wid incredible condescension; and dat ar beautiful lady says to me, 'Oh, get along wid your nonsense about coloured skins! I have inspectionated your conduct, Ma.s.sa Black, and likewise your performances on the slack rope,'

says she, 'in time of s.h.i.+pwreck: and darn me,' says she, 'but you are a man, you are.' 'No, Missy,' says I superciliously, 'dis child am not a man, if you please, but a coloured gemman.'” He added, he had put them in his ears because the biggest would not go on his little finger.

Fullalove groaned. ”And of course, the next thing, you'll ring your snout like a pig or a Patagonian. There, come along, ye darn'd--Anomaly.”

He was going to say ”Cuss,” but remembering his pupil's late heroic conduct, softened it down to Anomaly.

But Vespasian always measured the force of words by their length or obscurity. ”Anomaly” cut him to the heart: he rode off in moody silence and dejection, asking himself sorrowfully what he had done that such a mountain of vituperation should fall on him. ”Anomaly!!”

They cantered along in silence; for Fullalove was digesting this new trait in his pupil, and asking himself could he train it out, or must he cross it out. Just outside the town they met Captain Robarts walking in; he had landed three miles off down the coast. ”Hallo!” said Fullalove.

”I suppose you thought I was drowned?” said Robarts spitefully; ”but you see I'm alive still.”

Fullalove replied, ”Well, captain, that is only one mistake more you've made, I reckon.”

About two English miles from the town they came to a long straight slope up and down, where they could see a league before them; and there they caught sight of David Dodd's tall figure mounting the opposite rise.

Behind him at some little distance were two men going the same way, but on the gra.s.s by the roadside, whereas David was on the middle of the road.

”He walks well for Jacky Tar,” said Fullalove.

”Iss, sar,” said Vespasian sulkily; ”but dis 'a.n.a.logy' tink he not walk so fast as those two behind him, cos they catch him up.”