nd I shall
have to proceed alone. More than half the pleasure of the voyage will
be lost without your society; besides which, I have no money to pay for
my passage, for you will remember that you undertook to do that."

"Then, I will leave my portmanteau and my umbrella with you as a
security," said the Count, trying to get his arm free from that of his
friend.

"Ha, ha, ha! that will be no security at all," observed the Baron.
"Why, it would be the cause of my destruction. Just see how I should be
situated. Johanna Klack will shut you up, and you will disappear from
this sublunary world for a time, at all events. It is already known
that we set out on our travels. I shall be discovered with your
portmanteau as well as my own, and accused, notwithstanding my
protestations of innocence, of having done away with you, and before
Johanna Klack allows you to reappear I shall to a certainty be hung up
by the neck, or have my head chopped off, or be transported beyond seas.
Johanna Klack may be a very estimable and charming individual, but I
know her too well to trust her. Let her alone; she and your steward
being, as you say, thoroughly honest, will manage your affairs to your
satisfaction. When we are once away--two or three hundred miles off--
you can write and tell her that you are gone on your travels, and give
such directions as you may deem necessary. Come along, my dear fellow,
come along; I fear even now that she may have discovered our departure
and may consider it her duty to follow us."

"If she does, she had better look out for the consequences," said the
Baron to himself.

The Count yielded to his friend's arguments, and they continued their
course. As they reached the more frequented parts of the quay, where
the larger number of vessels were collected, they observed a party of
jovial sailors assembled in front of a wine-shop door; some were seated
at their ease on benches, either smoking or holding forth to their
companions, who were standing by listening. They looked perfectly happy
and contented with themselves. One lolling back with his legs stretched
out, who was evidently the orator of the party, and thought no small
beer of himself, was spinning an interesting yarn or making some amusing
jokes.

"Those are the sort of mariners I should like to sail with," observed
the Baron. "They are stout fellows, and probably first-rate seamen.
Let us draw near and hear what they are talking about."