“Oh yes; that portly, good-looking gentleman, speaking to the aeronaut, is Sir Joseph Terry, J.P., four times Lord Mayor of York; next to him is Sir William Ingram, Bart. The other gentlemen are Mr T. Hanson Lewis, a barrister, Mr John Holah, an artist, and Mr Charles Bucknell, an amateur aeronaut. The other aeronauts are Mr T. Wright, Mr Beatson, of Huddersfield, and the Brothers Spencer, of Holloway.”
“Thank you very much,” said the captain; “and now just one more inquiry, who is that tall, inquisitive looking man?—I have seen him before, eyeing me rather attentively.”
“Oh, never mind him—you would not care for his acquaintance,” said the official with a smile, as Hawksworth moved aside.
Miss Chain thought so too, though she refrained from mentioning his name, when they drew near the enclosure.
CHAPTER XI
REMARKABLE EVENTS
Whilst Captain Link had been enjoying his saunter with Miss Chain, Harry Goodall had been engaged with Trigger and the men in completing the inflation, which had progressed rapidly; yet, somehow, the assistant was not feeling easy, as his master had been sent for and detained in the building, and Miss Chain had not come back as she promised. Besides, he had been told that she had been seen strolling about with a gentleman who had the appearance of an officer, and Tom, who took a lively interest in Miss Chain’s welfare, felt vexed at her being so long absent with a stranger; and on Mr Goodall’s return, Trigger candidly told his master what he had heard. Mr Goodall was very sorry, for he feared that perhaps his joking question to Captain Link as to where marriages were made, when they were strolling about, had been overheard and had given rise to gossip. Possibly that man Hawksworth had been ensconced in the shrubs while they were chatting.
Presently, however, Captain Link, Miss Chain and her mother entered the inner circle, and Tom was thoroughly restored to good humour by their return. Soon afterwards Tom was called aside by Hawksworth, who said in an undertone, but with confidence,—
“I felt sure that I was right in sticking here with you and Mr Goodall—and how like his photo this pretended captain is.”
“I don’t know in the least what you are driving at,” cried Trigger.
“Sir,” said Mr Goodall, who had overheard the remark, “I fear you are labouring under a delusion.”