“I have the gout,” said Von Glauben curtly. “Oh!” And again Sir Roger laughed. “That last must have been a sharp twinge!” “It was--it was! Believe me, my excellent Roger, it was exceedingly severe!” His brow smoothed, and he smiled. “See here, my dear friend!--you know, do you not, that boys will be boys, and men will be men?” “Both are recognised platitudes,” replied Sir Roger, his eyes still twinkling merrily; “And both are frequently quoted to cover our various follies!” “True, true! But I wish to weigh more particularly on the fact that men will be men! I am a man, Roger,--not a boy!” “Really! Well, upon my word, I should at this moment take you for a raw lad of about eighteen,--for you are blushing, Von Glauben!--actually blushing!” The Professor drew out a handkerchief, and wiped his brow. “It is a warm morning, Roger,” he said, with a mildly reproachful air; “I suppose I am permitted to feel the heat?” He paused--then with a sudden burst of impatience he exclaimed: “By the Emperor’s head! It is of no use denying it--I am very much put out, Roger! I must get a boat, and slip off to The Islands at once!” Sir Roger stared at him in complete amazement. “You? You want to slip off to The Islands? Why, Von Glauben----!” “Yes--yes,--I know! You cannot possibly imagine what I want to go there for! You wouldn’t suppose, would you, that I had any special secrets--an old man like me;--for instance, you would not suspect me of any love secrets, eh?” And he made a ludicrous attempt to appear sentimental. “The fact is, Roger,--I have got into a little scrape over at The Islands--” here he looked warmer and redder than ever;--“and I want to take precautions! You understand--I want to take care that the King does not hear of it--Gott in Himmel! What a block of a man you are to stand there staring open-mouthed at me! Were you never in love yourself? “In love? In love!--you,--Professor? Pray pardon me--but--in love? Am I to understand that there is a lady in your case?” “Yes!--that is it,” said Von Glauben, with an air of profound relief; “There is a lady in my case;--or my case, speaking professionally, is that of a lady. And I shall get any sort of a sea-tub that is available, and go over to those accursed Islands without any delay!” “If the King should send for you while you are absent--” began De Launay doubtfully. “He will not send. But if he should, what of it? I am known to be somewhat eccentric--particularly so in my love of hard work, fresh air and exercise--besides, he has not commanded my attendance. He will not, therefore, be surprised at my absence. I tell you, Roger,--I _must_ go! Who would have expected the King to take it into his head to visit The Islands without a moment’s warning! What a freak!” “And here comes the reason of the freak, if I am not very much mistaken,” said De Launay, lowering his voice as an approaching figure flung its lengthy shadow on the path,--“Prince Humphry!”