er on his
arrival and welcome him home.

Under these circumstances, therefore, as might reasonably have been
expected, our halts had been already frequent and oft to satisfy the
cravings of my wondering fancy; and Dad must have been tired of
answering my innumerable questions and inquiries ere half our journey
had been accomplished.

He was very good-tempered and obliging, however, and bore with me
patiently, giving me all the information in his power concerning the
various persons and objects that attracted my attention, and never
"turning nasty" at my insatiable curiosity.

So now, as heretofore, obedient to my bidding, he turned to look in the
direction to which I pointed.

"Where's your friend, the funny old fellow you spoke of, my boy?" he
said kindly, though half-quizzingly. "I don't see him, Jack."

"Why, there he is, right opposite to us, Dad!" I exclaimed. "He's
coming down the steps from that doorway there, and is quite close to us
now!"

"Oh! that's your friend, Jack, eh?" said father, glancing in his turn at
the old gentleman who had caught my eye. "Let me see if I can make him
out for you."

The old fellow was not one whom an ordinary observer would style a grand
personage, or think worthy of notice in any way, very probably; and yet,
there was something about him which irresistibly attracted my attention
making me wonder who he was and want to know all about him. Boy though
I was, and new to London and London life, I was certain, I'm sure I
can't tell why, that he must be "somebody."

A short broad-shouldered man was he, with iron-grey hair, and a very
prominent nose that was too strongly curved to be called aquiline, and
which, with his angular face, equally tanned to a brick-dust hue from
exposure to wind and weather, gave him a sort of eagle-like look, an
impression that was supported by his erect bearing and air of command;
albeit, sixty odd years or more must have rolled over his head, and his
great width of chest, as he moved downwards throwing out his long arms,
made his thick-set figure seem stumpier than it actually was, though,
like most sailors of the old school, there was no denying the fact, as
Dad said subsequently, that he was "broad in the beam and Dutch built
over all!"

Nature had, undoubtedly, done much for the old gentleman, but art
little, so far as his personal appearance was concerned; for nothing
could have been more quaint and out of keeping with Pall Mall and its