"You're very good," answered Joyce, hastily; "but you see, the captain hasn't time for that, if he's going to catch the coach." "Are you going into the country for long, captain?" asked the landlord. "Well, no; not for long, mate; for I've got an appointment to keep in this house, on the fifth of April, with a brother of mine, who's homeward-bound from Barbadoes. You see, my brother and me are partners; whatever good luck one has he shares it with the other. We've been uncommon lucky lately." The captain slapped his hand upon one of his capacious pockets as he spoke. Dennis Wayman watched the gesture with eager eyes. All through Valentine's speech, Joyce Harker had been trying to arrest his attention, but trying in vain. When the owner of the 'Pizarro' began to talk, it was very difficult to stop him. The captain bade the landlord a cheerful good day, and departed with his faithful follower. Out in the street, Joyce Harker remonstrated with his employer. "I told you that fellow was not to be trusted, captain," he said; "and yet you blabbed to him about the money." "Nonsense, Joyce. I didn't say a word about money." "Didn't you though, captain? You said quite enough to let that man know you'd got the cash about you. But you won't go back to that place till you go to meet Captain George on the fifth?" "Of course not." "You won't change your mind, captain?" "Not I." "Because, you see, I shall be down at Blackwall, looking after the repairs, for it will be sharp work to get finished against you want to sail for Rio. So, you see, I shall be out of the way. And if you did go back to that house alone, Lord knows what they might try on." "Don't you be afraid, Joyce. In the first place I shan't go back there till twelve o'clock on the fifth. I'll come up from Plymouth by the night coach, and put up at the 'Golden Cross' like a gentleman. And, in the second place, I flatter myself I'm a match for any set of land-sharks in creation." "No, you're not, captain. No honest man is ever a match for a scoundrel." Jernam and his companion carried the captain's portmanteau between them. They hailed a hackney-coach presently, and drove to the "Golden Cross," through the chill, gray streets, where the closed shutters had a funereal aspect. At the coach-office they parted, with many friendly words on both sides; but to the last, Joyce Harker was grave and anxious. The last he saw of his friend and employer was the captain's dark face looking out of the coach-window; the captain's hand waved in cordial farewell. "What a good fellow he is!--what a noble fellow!" thought the wizen little clerk, as he trudged back towards the City. "But was there ever a baby so helpless on shore?--was there ever an innocent infant that needed so much looking after?" * * * * *