“Then Warner is only an ordinary policeman, I suppose?” said Captain Link.
“Yes,” said Mrs Chain, “he is in plain clothes to-day, at present, however; he never parades about or makes so much of himself as this stranger Hawksworth does.”
“Indeed!” replied the captain—“but dear me, time has been on the wing. Why, the balloon is nearly full.”
“Yes, we must hurry on, dear,” said Mrs Chain to her daughter. “I’m afraid we are much later than we promised to be.”
“I see,” cried the captain, “that my friend Harry Goodall seems to be chatting with several gentlemen who are much interested in what he is going to do.”
“I wonder,” said Miss Chain, “if they are candidates for a trip?”
“I hope not,” replied the anxious mariner.
“I will ask,” said Miss Chain, “a palace official, who is coming our way, if any of them wish to go up.”
“I think not,” was the reply. “Some of them are distinguished visitors, who are delighted with Mr Goodall and his balloon.”
“Do you know them personally?” asked Captain Link.