The roar of laughter which followed this sally somewhat calmed the ire of this rabid and irascible duellist, more especially when he was informed who I was, and that my province was to make people live well, and not die badly. The Captain, however, entered with a smile on his countenance, and looked altogether pleased. He begged of me to say nothing about it, as the crew would laugh at him, and it was necessary on board ship to be very severe. Moreover, he declared that he wished to catch some of his brother captains, who, like him, were very much pestered with rats. As I was extremely anxious to see Captain King respecting the slow progress of the kitchen, I started about seven o’clock, expecting to find him at home. After a long and disagreeable mountainous walk, I arrived too late. “But,” said his man, “you will very likely meet him at his office about nine o’clock, or else at the Sanatorium or head-quarters, or at Kadikoi, as he told me he was going to those places.” “I suppose I have a chance of finding him anywhere, except at Sebastopol,” I replied. More fortunate than on former occasions, I met the captain on horseback going to his office. We mounted the tumble-down rotten wooden staircase of this late palazzo, now converted into one of the principal and most important departments in the British army in the Crimea--viz., the office of the chief engineer. The large room which was dedicated to the captain would hold, at a pinch, seven or eight people of a very moderate size standing; the second about five; and the third none, being filled with plans, models, and drawings. Such was the castle of a king in Balaklava; and I have seen from thirty to forty people waiting in the mud to have an interview with his Majesty, who, I must confess, received his loyal subjects with a most humorous and happy countenance, having always a smile for a friend and kind words for everybody. When we got in, I immediately locked the door, informing him that he, the king, was my prisoner for at least ten minutes, as that was all the time I should require. We went earnestly to business. I submitted my various plans, and requested him to have the Sanatorium kitchen finished. To this he agreed, promising to do all he could for me, at the same time observing they were short of materials and good workmen. I then set the captain and king at liberty. I next went to see Commissary Filder, being anxious to fix a time for inspecting the provisions in general use. CHAPTER XVII. RECEPTION AT ENGLISH AND FRENCH HEAD-QUARTERS.