"Yes, sir; and I have the choice of two packets to offer you. The brig 'Mary' sails for London on Wednesday; the steamer 'Cadiz' sails for the port of Cadiz on Saturday. The choice remains with you," said Ishmael, putting down his hat and seating himself. "Oh, then we will go by the 'Cadiz'; though she sails at a later day, and for a farther port, we shall reach our destination sooner, going by her, than we should to go in a sailing packet bound direct for London." "I think so too, sir; there is no certainty in the sailing packets. I hope you succeeded at the bank?" "Perfectly; our consul, Tourneysee, went with me, to identify me and vouch for my solvency, and I got accommodated without any difficulty whatever. And now I must insist upon being banker for our whole party until we reach England." "I thank you, sir, in behalf of my father as well as myself," said Ishmael. "Now, let me see--nine hundred and seventy, eighty, ninety, an hundred--that is one thousand. I will lay that by itself," muttered the judge, still counting his money. "I met an old acquaintance down in the city," said Ishmael, gradually feeling his way towards the announcement of Katie. "Ah!" said the judge indifferently, and going on with his counting. "An old friend, indeed, I may say," added Ishmael emphatically. "Yes," replied the judge absently, and continuing to count. "Judge Merlin," inquired Ishmael, in a meaning tone, "have you no curiosity to know who it was that I met near the quays?" "No," said the old man, counting diligently; "some fellow you knew in Washington, I suppose, my boy. Why, the Lord bless you, I stumbled over half a dozen acquaintances on my way to the consulate and the bank. Among them Frank Tourneysee, who is staying here with his brother for the benefit of his health. He is a consumptive, poor man! crossed in love; or something; "Sir, it was no casual acquaintance or ordinary friend that I met," said Ishmael, in so grave a voice that the judge looked up from his work and stared in wonder, not at the words, but at the manner of the speaker. "It was no man, but a woman, sir," continued Ishmael, fixing his eyes wistfully upon the face of the old man. "It was Claudia!" cried the judge, in an ear-piercing voice, jumping at once at the most improbable conclusion, as he started up, pale as death, and gazed with breathless anxiety upon the grave face of Ishmael. "No, Judge Merlin," answered the young man, as he gently replaced him in his seat; "no, it was not Lady Vincent; but it is one who, I hope, can give us later news of her." "Who--who was it then?" gasped the old man, trembling violently. Ishmael poured out a glass of water and handed it to the judge, saying calmly: "It was old Katie whom I met." "Katie!" cried the judge, in astonishment, and holding the glass of water suspended in his hand. "Katie. But drink your water, Judge Merlin; it will refresh you."