The noise of the plunge had attracted attention, and several persons now hurried to the spot. On coming up, and finding Auriol bending over a water-sprite--for such, at first sight, the dwarf appeared--they could not repress their astonishment. Wholly insensible to the presence of those around him, Auriol endeavoured to recall where he had seen the dwarf before. All at once, the recollection flashed upon him, and he cried aloud, "Why, it is my poor murdered grandfather's attendant, Flapdragon! But no! no!--he must be dead ages ago! Yet the resemblance is singularly striking!" Auriol's exclamations, coupled with his wild demeanour, surprised the bystanders, and they came to the conclusion that he must be a travelling showman, who had attempted to drown his dwarf--the grotesque, impish garb of the latter convincing them that he had been exhibited at a booth. They made signs, therefore, to each other not to let Auriol escape, and one of them, raising the dwarf's head on his knee, produced a flask, and poured some brandy from it down his throat, while others chafed his hands. These efforts were attended with much speedier success than might have been anticipated. After a struggle or two for respiration, the dwarf opened his eyes, and gazed at the group around him. "It must be Flapdragon!" exclaimed Auriol. "Ah! who calls me?" cried the dwarf. "I!" rejoined Auriol. "Do you not recollect me?" "To be sure!" exclaimed the dwarf, gazing at him fixedly; "you are----" and he stopped. "You have been thrown into the water, Master Flapdragon?" cried a bystander, noticing the cord round the dwarf's throat. "I have," replied the little old man. "By your governor--that is, by this person?" cried another, laying hold of Auriol. "By him--no," said the dwarf; "I have not seen that gentleman for nearly three centuries." "Three centuries, my little patriarch?" said the man who had given him the brandy. "That's a long time. Think again." "It's perfectly true, nevertheless," replied the dwarf. "His wits have been washed away by the water," said the first speaker. "Give him a drop more brandy." "Not a bit of it," rejoined the dwarf; "my senses were never clearer than at this moment. At last we have met," he continued, addressing Auriol, "and I hope we shall not speedily part again. We hold life by the same tie." "How came you in the desperate condition in which I found you?" demanded Auriol evasively. "I was thrown into the canal with a stone to my neck, like a dog about to be drowned," replied the dwarf. "But, as you are aware, I'm not so easily disposed of." Again the bystanders exchanged significant looks. "By whom was the attempt made?" inquired Auriol. "I don't know the villain's name," rejoined the dwarf, "but he's a very tall, dark man, and is generally wrapped in a long black cloak." "Ha!" exclaimed Auriol. "When was it done?"