While we were eviscerating the papers, fresh from London, Gingham leaned over the table, with the air of a man who had something important to communicate. He looked me earnestly in the face. "Mr Y----," said he, "what do you say--to a red herring--this evening--for supper?" "Thank you. You must excuse me. Nothing more to-night, but one cup of coffee, and perhaps a cigar. Not even an anchovy toast. I really couldn't." "Well, then," said Gingham, "to-morrow at breakfast. We will engage a room up stairs, and ask leave of nobody. I have brought down a small barrel from London--always take some when I visit the Peninsula--get them in Lower Thames Street. You will pronounce them excellent." The offer was too good to be declined. Next morning we ordered breakfast up stairs. Indeed, a fire had been lit in one of the parlours, by Gingham's directions; and there I found him, with the table laid, and the herrings ready for cooking. Gingham had secured a small Dutch oven; not with the design of _baking_ the herrings--no, no, he knew better than that--but to keep them hot when done. The doing he reserved to himself, on the plea of experience. I was not to assist, except in eating them. "Do you understand cookery, Mr Y--?" said Gingham. I ingenuously owned my deficiency in that branch of education, which is no part of the Cambridge curriculum. "Three months at headquarters," said he, "will make you an excellent cook." It so happened that the parlour, in which we had located ourselves for the purpose of cooking our herrings, was not that in which we had dined the day before, but one adjoining the larger apartment occupied by the three military gentlemen, with whom we were to cross the Bay of Biscay. A boarding, removable at pleasure, was the only separation between the two rooms. We had not yet become acquainted. Shortly after I joined Gingham, two of the three entered their parlour; presently the third followed. They rang the bell, and ordered breakfast, all in high good humour, and talking incessantly. We were not listeners, but could not help hearing every word that was said.