“And have you despatches too?” asked the other, whom we may as well announce to the reader as Tony Butler. “Have you despatches too?” cried he, in great delight at meeting something like a colleague. “Yes; I take out orders for the Lord High Commissioner to Corfu. I am the head of the Staff there.” Tony bowed in recognition of the announced rank, and said quietly: “My name is Butler. I am rather new to this sort of thing, and never crossed the Alps in my life.” “I 'll give you a lift, then, for I have a spare place. My servant has gone round with my heavy baggage by Trieste, and I have a seat to spare.” “This is most kind of you, but I scarcely dare put you to such inconvenience.” “Don't talk of that. We are all in the same boat. It 's my luck to have this offer to-day; it will be yours tomorrow. What 's your destination?” “First Turin, then Naples; but I believe I shall have no delay at Turin, and the Naples bags are the most urgent ones.” “Is there anything going on down there, then?” asked M'Caskey, carelessly. “I suspect there must be, for three of our fellows have been sent there,--I am the fourth within a fortnight.” “A country that never interested me. Take a cigar. Are you ready, or do you want to eat something?” “No, I am quite ready, and only anxious not to be late for this first train. The fact is, it's all a new sort of life to me, and as I am a wretchedly bad Frenchman, I don't get on too well.” “The great secret is, be peremptory, never listen to excuses, tolerate no explanations. That's my plan. I pay liberally, but I insist on having what I want.”