"My dear Frank," said Trevor, smoking away in the most unruffled fashion, "you will oblige me very much by letting that be the clearing-up shower as far as talk of leaving me is concerned. It is quite right. Here have I been to sea, middy and man, for twelve years; and now I come back to England a great helpless baby of a fellow, game for everybody. You think I'm a fool. Well, I am not over-wise; but my first act ashore here was the looking-up of a tried old schoolfellow, whose purse I've often shared, and who never once left me in the lurch-- and," he added, slowly and meaningly, "who never will leave me in the lurch. Am I right?" Frank Pratt turned one sharp, quick flash upon the speaker, and that was enough. "Thanky, sir," cried the shoeblack, spinning up the sixpence he had received. The friends turned towards one of the omnibuses about to make a start for the course. "Beg parding, sir," said a voice, "just a speck left on your coat, sir!" And the man who had received the shilling for the brushing began to "ciss" once more. "That'll do, sir! That's the next 'bus, sir! Good luck to you for a real gent, sir," he added; and then in a whisper, "Back White Lassie!" Trevor turned sharply round, just time enough to encounter a most knowing wink, and the man was gone. "Dick, I'm afraid that's a trap," said Pratt, gazing after the man. "Better not bet at all; but if you do, I don't think I should go by what that fellow says. Well, come along. Eh? what?" "Consequential-looking old chap in that barouche, I said;" and Trevor pointed to where a carriage had drawn up by the railway hotel, the owner having posted down from town--"regular type of the old English gentleman." "Now, if we are to get on together, Dick," said Pratt, plaintively, "don't try to humbug me in that way. Don't hoist false colours." "Humbug you?--false colours?" "Yes, humbug me. Now, on your oath, didn't you think more of the two ladies in the barouche than of the old gentleman?" "Without being on my oath--yes, I did; for I haven't seen a pretty girl for three years. Get up first." "After you," was the response. And directly after the friends were mounted on the knifeboard of a great three-horse omnibus, brought down expressly for the occasion.