But at the same moment the door of the apartment opened, and the Earl entered in his robes.
"Well, Jack," he exclaimed, "you make yourself comfortable."
"Always do so," was the curt reply, as he lit his third cigar.
"And have you waited long?"
"I believe you—just a mortal hour have I been here," looking at his watch—"however, I was as well here as out in the cold."
"I have been at a levée or would have been here before."
"How is the Regent?"
"Never was better in his life—he seems to have renewed his youth since last summer. Is there any news? I have not seen the papers yet to-day."
"Devil a bit except Frank's battalion left in the Miranda for the Mediterranean. Egad, they'll catch it 'in the Bay of Biscay O!' if it is blowing like this," said the Captain, whistling the chorus of that song, and once more approaching the window.
"What are you looking at?" asked the Earl, after the Captain had stayed some seconds at the window, evidently regarding something with the greatest interest.