in your bronzed face, and, excuse me, somewhat
threadbare garments."

"Oh! as to that, old man, I've got tin enough to buy a noo rig out, but
I'm in no hurry."

He glanced unintentionally at his bag as he spoke, and the seedy man
glanced at it too--intentionally. Of course Stumps's glance let the cat
out of the bag!

"Come," said the stranger, when the brandy was put before them, "drink--
drink to--to the girls we left behind us."

"I left no girl behind _me_," said Stumps.

"Well then," cried the seedy man, with irresistible good humour, "let us
drink success to absent friends and confusion to our foes."

This seemed to meet the youth's views, for, without a word of comment,
he drained his glass nearly to the bottom.

"Ha! that's good. Nothin' like brandy and water on a hot day."

"Except brandy and water on a cold day, my dear," returned the Jew--for
such he was; "there is not much to choose between them. Had you not
better take off your bag? it incommodes you in so narrow a seat. Let me
help--No?"

"You let alone my hag," growled Stumps angrily, with a sudden clutch at
it.

"Waiter! bring a light. My cigar is out," said the Jew, affecting not
to observe Stumps's tone or manner. "It is strange," he went on, "how,
sometimes, you find a bad cigar--a _very_ bad cigar--in the midst of
good ones. Yours is going well, I think."

"Well enough," answered Stumps, taking another pull at the brandy and
water.

The seedy man now launched out into a pleasant light discourse about
Bombay and its ways, which highly interested his poor victim. He made
no further allusion to the bag, Stumps's behaviour having betrayed all
he required to know, namely, that its contents were valuable.

Soon the brandy began to take effect on Stumps, and, as he was
unaccustomed to such potent drink besides being unused to
self-restraint, he would speedily have made himself a fit subject for
the care of the police, which would not have suited his new friend at
all. When, therefore, Stumps put out his hand to grasp his tumbler for
another draught, his anxious friend inadvertently knocked it over, and
then begged his pardon profusely. Before Stumps could decide whether to
call for another glass at the risk of having to pay for it himself, the
Jew pointed to a tall, sallow-faced man who sat in a corner smoking and
reading a newspaper.

"Do you see him!" he asked, in a low mysterious whisper.

"Yes; who is he? what about him?" a