"Another plate, landlord."
"Sartainly, sah."
To say that this was a happy meeting would be to print a mere commonplace.
It was more than happy, but it was agreed that they should not tell each other the story of their adventures, till dinner had been discussed.
Their anxiety, I may tell you at once, reader, did not prevent our heroes doing ample justice to the delightful little meal that the Frenchman had set before them.
He waited upon them himself, too, and presently informed them that dessert was laid upstairs. Duncan opened his eyes wonderingly.
"What!" he cried, "do you serve dessert in the bedrooms?"
Talbot laughed.
"No," he said, "not in the bedroom, but on the upper deck. Follow me, and see for yourself."