"The other line?"
"Yes, the other line. Don't you see that pair of rooks flying over the harbour?"
"Rooks fly in droves. I see no rooks."
"Right," said he; "they are a couple of crows."
"But the line from Horace, referring to our voyage?"
"Not only referring to it," said Gingham, "but highly encouraging. 'Nil desperandum two crow duce, et auspice two crow."
"Gingham, you are incorrigible."
To reach the street from the water's side we had to pass through a narrow passage, and there met the stewardess of the steamer, who was going on board. She stalked along in clogs on tiptoe, her left hand gathering up, behind, her cloak, gown, petticoat, &c., while her right hand bore an umbrella one size larger than a parasol, and a reticule one size less than a pannier; emerging from which pannier appeared the ugly mug of an enormous Portuguese red ram cat, the pet of the stewardess, and the constant companion of her Peninsular voyages.
"My cat inter omnes," said Gingham.