CHAPTER XVI.

WHAT MADAME MANTALENT DID WITH HER

WATCH.

FEW Contrasts ever seen in this world could ever have been greater than that between the old Frenchwoman sitting up in her bed, and the sailor who came into the room. Her complexion was like a very pale rose-his was very much like a rather badly burnt brick. But they had something in common: they both had grand bold black eyes; and Mrs. Arnaud, standing in an atmosphere composed of eau de cologne on the side of her mother, and bad tobacco on the side of the sailor, came to the conclusion that neither

of them were particularly afraid of any

thing.

'Madam,' said the sailor, 'I hope I see

you well.'

I am rheumatic, sir,' she said; but otherwise perfectly well. I am bound for a Will you state your

journey to-morrow. intelligence?

I come to speak of Mr. George Drummond, madam,' said the sailor. He requested me to come, in case I should escape. He said that his relations lived here, and I have done as he told me.'

You see, sir,' said Madame Mantalent, his grandmother and his mother, pray proceed.'

"When the "Newcastle" was lost, madam, I stayed with him and with the captain. When she went down-we all three on the same piece of wreck-and a very few hours

passed before we were seen by two ships. They both bore down upon us at once. One apparently homeward bound, got nearer to us quicker than the other, but passed a little to leeward. I left the spar and struck out for her, because I wanted as a poor man to get home. The captain and Mr. Drummond not being such active swimmers as I am, preferred to risk being taken up by the other ship, and I saw them both taken on her deck, apparently safe and sound. I expected to have been home long ago, but, with my usual luck, the Italian bark which picked me

up

lost her foremast and was driven out into the Atlantic by the easterly wind which followed the gale. We were glad to make the west coast of France before we were right. Here I got a berth back to the Mediterranean, and telegraphed to my wife from Brest. The French people made such a mess of my

English that she never understood any more than that I was alive, and as our owners had paid her as if I was dead, she didn't bother them. But, to make a long story short, both the captain and Mr. Drummond were taken safe on board an outward bound ship.'

'But did she not signal her name?' said sharp Madame Mantalent.

She did, madam, but I fairly tell you that if she had I should not have remembered it. I was very much knocked about by the sea. I can only repeat that Mr. Drummond was perfectly safe when I saw him last.'

On board the outward bound ship?'

said Madame Mantalent.

6

By no means, madam.

I have seen

Mr. Drummond since. I have seen him at Bordeaux. He is coming to England as fast as he can, but his leg was broken, it

seems, and for some reason or another he

seems in no hurry.'

There is no great reason for him to hurry,' said Madame Mantalent. Well, sir, we are very much obliged to you. Would you kindly accept my watch? It is a Brequet, and of no use to you, I dare say, but you can exchange it for an English chronometer, you know. So, good bye.'

'Stop one moment, sir,' said Mrs. Arnaud, speaking to to the sailor, with Madame's watch in his hand.

6

Did Mr. Drummond tell you by what route he was coming home? I am his mother, and I wish to see him.'

'I can tell you that, madam, I think,' said the sailor. He was coming through the Alps, and down the Rhine.' And so the sailor departed.

'What are we to do now, mother?' said