“By Jove, he’s more than the moral!” returned Coverdale, as the individual thus alluded to advanced towards them bowing and smiling, “it’s the veritable Horace himself, I vow--talk of the devil----. My dear fellow, how are you? who’d have thought of seeing you here! You’ve not turned Custom-house officer, have you? I’ve nothing contraband about me, except this morning’s _Galignani;_ if you are inclined to make a seizure of that, you’re very welcome.” “You’re nearer the mark than you imagine, my dear sir,” was the reply; “though not exactly a professional _attaché_ to the Customs, I must own that I am here as an amateur in that capacity--my object being to facilitate the transmission of a lady’s luggage.” “Yes?--how interesting! I hope she’s young and pretty,” observed Alice. “Come Mr. D’Almayne, having let us so far into the secret, it’s no use to affect the mysterious, so tell us who and where she is.” “Where she is, perhaps you may be able to inform me, my dear Mrs. Coverdale,” replied D’Almayne, smoothing his moustaches. “The object of my search is a young German lady, the Countess Bertha von Rosenthal, to whom I have promised my friend, the Honourable Mrs. Botherby, to act as _preux chevalier_. Accordingly I came down by train this morning, provided with an order from the Board of Customs to the people here to pass the Countess’s luggage unexamined, and show her every attention which may facilitate her transit; thence I am to escort her and her property to Park Lane; by all which ‘double, double, toil and trouble,’ I secure an early introduction to, and confer a favour upon, a young and lovely heiress.” “That’s my Countess, as sure as fate!” exclaimed Harry. “She said her name was Bertha”--and he then related to D’Almayne the circumstances with which the reader has already been made acquainted. “And,” he continued in conclusion, as a female figure, leaning on the arms of the _soubrette_ and Don Whiskerandos, emerged from the ladies’ cabin--“and here she comes, looking rather poorly still--nothing of the water-witch about her, at all events. Have you met before, or shall I introduce you?” “Do, by all means, _mon cher_; we are total strangers to each other,” was the reply. And with an injunction to Alice to remain where she was till he should return, Harry seized D’Almayne’s arm, and hurried him away. Before two minutes had elapsed, Coverdale returned alone. “It’s all right,” he said: “but come along; D’Almayne’s order will clear our luggage also, and we can all get away together.” Then ensued a grand _scena_ of bustle and confusion, during which, supported by her husband’s stalwart arm, Alice caught glimpses of D’Almayne smiling to show his white teeth, and striving vigorously to enact the part of guardian angel to the rich young heiress.