og's. His companion, for
whose sake he corrected every now and then his long stride, was a
little hunchback of ferocious demeanour, who looked out on the world
from a pair of terrifying green eyes. In place of a wig he wore a
bandage round his scalp.

The reader will not need to be told the names of this pair of old
gentlemen. After his treatment at the hands of the Earl of
Marlborough's soldiers, Captain Barker had been confined to his
pavilion by nothing short of main force, which Dr. Beckerleg had with
difficulty prevailed on Captain Runacles to exert. The inflammation
of the patient's wound increasing with his irascibility, the Doctor
ended by placing a padlock of his own on the front-door and another
on the garden gate, and promising the little man his liberty on the
first day he was fit to travel.

Captain Barker flung a monastic herbal at the doctor's head;
whereupon the bleeding broke out afresh. Then he fainted.

Ten weeks afterwards Dr. Beckerleg removed his padlocks, setting free
not only the little Captain, but also Mr. Swiggs, who throughout the
time had kept diligent watch by his master's bedside.

Narcissus walked out to take a look at the garden. Ten weeks of
neglect had played havoc with the beds. He contemplated it for some
time, and went down to the Fish and Anchor for a mug of beer.
There he was welcomed by his cronies, who had missed him sorely; or
said so, at any rate.

Captain Barker went to pack his handbag. When Narcissus returned he
was gone. Captain Runacles was gone also.

"Any orders?" said Narcissus to Simeon.

"Not as I know by."

Narcissus went back to the Fish and Anchor.

The two friends entered The Hague, brisking up their pace and
stepping gallantly abreast. Turning to their left, they came,
towards the centre of the town, upon a fair sheet of water, with
avenues of pleasant trees planted along its northern brink, and
behind these trees a public road faced with shops and cabarets, each
shaded by a coloured awning. It was the breakfast-hour, and beneath
these awnings sat a crowd of soldiers of the guard, citizens and
citizens' wives, eating, chattering, smoking, clinking their glasses
and contemplating from their cool shelter the water that twinkled
between the trees and the throng that moved up and down the
promenade. The two captains were hungry and thirsty. They advanced,
and, finding a small table unoccupied, ordered breakfast.

Their appearance, and mo