l coaches in those days were not the rapidly-moving
vehicles they afterwards became. Passengers sat not only in front, but
behind, where the guard also had his post--a most important personage,
resplendent in red livery, and armed to the teeth with pistols, a heavy
blunderbuss, and often a hanger or cutlass; so that he had the means, if
he possessed a bold heart, of defending the property confided to him.

True Blue had never before been on the top of a coach, and his remarks
as they drove along, till the long summer day came to a close, amused
the young baronet very much.

When they reached London, Mr Leslie called a hackney coach, and True
Blue found himself rumbling along through the streets of London, towards
Portman Square, at an early hour on a bright summer morning.

"Where are all the people, sir?" he asked, looking out of the window.
"I thought London was full of people."

"So it is. They are all asleep now, like ants in their nest. When the
sun is up by and by, they will be busy enough, you will see," answered
Mr Leslie.

It was still very early when they arrived at Lady Elmore's house; and,
as they were not expected, no one was up to receive them. They,
however, got in quietly; and while his arrival was being made known to
his mother, Sir Henry took True Blue to a room and advised him to turn
in and get some sleep. He would, however, very much rather have been
allowed to go out and see the wonders of the great city; but his friend
assuring him that, if he did, he would inevitably lose himself, he
reluctantly went to bed.

The moment, however, that his head was on the pillow, he was fast
asleep, and, in spite of the bright sun which gleamed in at the window,
it was not till nearly the family breakfast-time that he awoke.

He was awakened by a bland voice saying, "It is time to get up, sir.
Shall I help you to dress?"

True Blue opened his eyes and saw before him a personage in a very fine
coat, with powdered hair, who he thought must be some great lord or
other, even though he held a can of hot water in his hand.

The young sailor sat up, and, seeing no one else in the room, said,
pulling a front lock of his hair, "Did you speak to me, sir?"

"Sir Henry sent me to ascertain if you wanted anything," answered the
footman, somewhat puzzled, as he had not been told who the occupant of
the room was.

When, however, he came to examine the clothes by the bedside, he guessed
that he was some naval fo