* * * * * CHANGE OF NAME.--M. SUCCI, having succeeded in existing for forty days on water alone, will henceforth be known as Water-SUCCI. * * * * * [Illustration: FELICITOUS QUOTATIONS. "IS THIS A DAGGER THAT I SEE BEFORE ME?"] * * * * * HOW I WELCOMED STANLEY. (_Notes of a Very Important Journey._) Left Victoria by special train. On my road met my dear old friend BROWN. We were boys together. Nothing I would not do for him. BROWN says the dearest object of his life is to welcome STANLEY. Can't I take him with me? (This on learning the nature of _my_ expedition.) He is off to Canada to-morrow--early. More sorry than I can say--impossible. Only invitation for "one." One, myself. He sighs and we part--it may be for years, it may be for ever. Sorrowful, but cheered up by party in special train. Everybody in great spirits going to welcome STANLEY. Dearest object of everybody's life. To pass the time tell one another stories of adventure. Man who was in the Franco-German War explains how he would have defended Metz if he had been BAZAINE. Man who went through the Soudan (perhaps a trifle jealous), says if he _had_ been BAZAINE he wouldn't have defended Metz at all, because BAZAINE was a traitor. Row imminent, so cut in with my adventure in a life-boat. Graphic account. Ship springing a-leak; men at the pumps; boats given up to the women and children. The good ship--well, never mind the name of ship; have forgotten it--lurches, gives one long roll, and sinks! Remaining passengers, headed by myself, swarm up the rigging to the mizzen-top. High sea, thunder and lightning. Great privations. Sun sinks in red, moon rises in green. All hope gone, when--hurrah, a sail! It is the life-boat! Slung on board by ropes. Rockets and coloured lights let off. The coxswain calls upon the crew to "pull blue," or "pull white." Startling adventures. On the rocks! Off them! Saved! Everybody pleased with my story. Keep to myself the fact that I have only once in my life been on board a life-boat--when it was practising off Lynton. No more stories after mine. Company (disheartened) break up into groups. Pleased with the scenery. After all, there is no place like Dover--when you stop there. Glad I am not going to welcome STANLEY on the other side of the Channel. London, Chatham and Dover Railway arrangements capital, especially when you are travelling _en prince_.