Sare, all would not save him: no ting would save him: his time fos
come."

"And what was his complaint, pray?"

"Cons_o_mption."

"Consumption! What Captain le Harnois' complaint consumption?"

"Oh! que oui, Sare: he complain moch of cons_o_mption."

"Why he had good reason to complain of it, if it killed him with so
little warning. But what sort of consumption? Consumption of the brandy
cask?"

"Oh no, mine dear friend: consomption--what you call it?--trotting
consomption."

"Galloping consumption he means," said the English coadjutor of Mr. Van
der Velsen.

"In good truth then it must have galloped," said Bertram; "for last
night----"

"Well, Sir, no matter how or when, you hear that the Captain is dead:
we are not his doctors, but his executors: and, if you owe him any
money, you will pay it to me or to this gentleman. Or,"--he added on
observing that Bertram laughed at such a conceit as that of the worthy
Captain's having suffered any man to leave the Fleurs-de-lys in his
debt,--"Or, if you owe nothing to his estate, perhaps out of love you
will join us to-morrow on the road to Ap Gauvon:" and at the same time
he put into Bertram's hand a written paper of the following tenor, but
without date or subscription:

"In full confidence that you are a good Christian, and that you
patronize freedom of trade, we hereby invite you to attend the funeral
of the late Captain le Harnois; a worthy Christian, and one who
admired--patronized--and personally promoted unlimited freedom of trade
by every means in his power. The place of rendezvous is Huntingcross,
near the sea-side by Aberkilvie; the time nine in the morning. If any
other engagement should interfere with your attending at this hour and
place, you will be so good as to join us on the road to Griffith ap
Gauvon. Finally, dear christian brother, out of affection to the memory
of the deceased have the kindness to bring a cudgel with you not less
than two inches thick, and three and a half feet long."

Bertram mused a little on this last item in the invitation: but,
recollecting that it might possibly be part of the etiquette in Welsh
funeral solemnities, and being at any rate certain that the funeral had
the highest possible sanction,--he said at length

"Well, gentlemen,--I cannot say that I owe the deceased Captain any
money, or much love. But I bear no malice: and I have a mind to see how
funerals are conducted in North Wales; and Griffith ap Gauvon, I