Mr. Kennet opened to him at last, with so much surprise that he was, for the moment, unable to recognise the unexpected visitor, and stood staring blankly at him.
"I want to see Sir Denzil, Kennet--Mr. Eager. One of the boys is missing----"
"Eh?--Ah!--Missing?--Tell him. Will you wait a moment, sir?" And Eager concluded from his manner that Mr. Kennet had been enjoying himself, and hoped that it might not be, in this case, like man like master.
Sir Denzil, however, received him with most formal politeness.
"You bring me good news, Mr. Eager?" he asked, snuffing very elegantly. "Who is it is a-missing?"
"We can't find Jim, Sir Denzil."
"Ah--Jim! Let me see--Jim! Now, which is Jim?"
"Jim is the hero of the sand-boat----"
"Ah--and is the boat gone again?"
"No, sir. They both pledged themselves not to go out in her alone again."