changed her name to _Mirage_--a screw-schooner of one hundred and
ninety tons, owned by no less a person than the Marquis of Ormonde.
On the whole it seemed pretty clear that Lloyd knew not of the existence
of this "fast and comfortable cruiser" of thirty-five tons.

However, if half the promises of the advertisement were genuine, the
chance ought not to be lost for lack of further inquiry. So I sat down
there and then and wrote a letter to the poetically-named Dewy and Moss,
asking some questions in detail about the boat, and, in particular,
where she was to be seen.

The answer came by return of post. The boat had been laid up since the
autumn in a sheltered creek of the F-- River, about three-quarters of a
mile up from the harbour side, where Messrs. Dewy and Moss transacted
business. The keys lay at their office, and she could be inspected at
any time. Her sails, gear, and movable furniture were stored in a roomy
loft at the back of Messrs, Dewy and Moss's own premises. Their client
was a lady who wished to keep her name concealed--at any rate during the
preliminaries; but they had full power to conduct the sale. The yacht
was a bargain. The lady wished to be rid of it at once; but they might
mention that she would not take a penny less than the quoted price of
400 pounds. They would be happy to deal with me in that or any other
line of business; and they enclosed their card.

The card bore witness to the extraordinary versatility of Messrs. Dewy
and Moss, if to nothing else. Here is the digest of it:--
"Auctioneers; Practical Valuers; House and Estate Agents; Business
Brokers; Ship Brokers; Accountants and Commission Merchants; Servants'
Registry Office; Fire, Life, Accident, and Plate Glass Insurance
Effected; Fire Claims prepared and adjusted; Live Stock Insured; Agents
for Gibson's Non-Slipping Cycles; Agents for Packington's Manures, the
best and cheapest for all crops; Valuations for Probate; Emigration
Agents; Private Arrangements negotiated with Creditors; Old Violins
cleaned and repaired; Vice-Consulate for Norway and Sweden."

I cannot say this card produced quite the impression which its composers
no doubt desired. It seemed to me that Messrs. Dewy and Moss had
altogether too many strings to their bow. And the railway journey to
F-- was a long one. So I hesitated for two days; and on the late
afternoon of the third found myself some three hundred miles from home,
standing in a windy street