You are right,” replied the Maltese captain, “andearly to-morrow morning I will start for Odessa by the railway.”

Then these two worthies withdrew from the crowd, and as they turned away, Kéraban called out to his servant,— “Nizib,”he said. “Yes,sir!” “Followme to the counting-house.” “Tothe counting-house,” replied Nizib.

“And you too, Van Mitten,” added Kéraban. ‘“I I’’

“And you also, Bruno.” “Yes,but—.”

“We will go all together.” “Eh!”exclaimed Bruno, pricking up his ears. “Yes;I have invited you to dinner at Scutari,” said the Seigneur Kéraban to Van Mitten; “and,by Allah, at Scutari you shall dine—when we return.” “Butwe shall not be back for—how long?” said Bruno. “Notfor a month, a year, ten years, perhaps,” replied Kéraban in a tone that admitted of no discussion. “Youhave accepted my invitation to dinner, and my dinner you shall eat!” “Itwill have got cold by that time,” muttered Bruno. “Willyou allow me, friend Kéraban—.” “Iwill allow you nothing, friend Van Mitten. Come.” So saying, Kéraban advanced a few steps towards the end of the promenade. I “Weare quite unable to withstand this ‘pig.headed’fellow,” said Van Mitten to Banio. “Butare you really going to yield to such caprice, sir?” “WhetherI remain here, or go elsewhere, it is all the same to me, so long as we do not touch Rotterdam,” replied his master. “But,sir—”

“And since I follow my friend Kéraban, you have no alternative but to follow me,” continued Van Mitten.