"Left behind, by Jove!" exclaimed Harvey.
"Serve him right if I left him behind entirely," said Harkaway senior, rather angrily.
He was on the point of sending one of the porters back to the hotel, when Mr. Mole appeared.
Now there were two things that had delayed him.
One was that on the very morning Mr. Mole had mounted a new pair of artificial legs made by the very best surgical instrument maker in Marseilles.
Some time had been taken over the proper adjustment of these.
For the second reason—Mr. Mole had discovered that the hotel cellars contained some excellent brandy, and he had been taking a parting glass with the Irish diver before commencing his journey.
And as he now made his appearance on the railway platform, he was any thing but steady on his new legs.
"Better late than never, Mr. Mole," said Harvey.
"I am not late."