stages of their conversation. Prynne, when left alone, called for
candles and sat down to his writing-table. The Jerseymen walked together
towards Temple Bar.

"Knowest thou, _mon cher_," said the Ex-Bailiff in the island language,
"a heartier friend than one of these English that seem so cold?"

"But tell me, I pray thee, wherefore they call the present master of our
island by an English name? For surely yonder gentleman said
'Cartwright,' which is a name not of Jersey but of England." "They are
stupid, Alain, that is all; and they think to weigh the world in their
own scales. But whether we call him Cartwright or Carteret, it is
equally hard to pardon his voracity. He is like Time--_Edax rerum._
Nevertheless, I feel as if it was not only the sight of you and news
from home that had made me of such good cheer to-night: but that I owe
something of it to Mons. Prynne; aye! thanks to his schooling and a
readiness to perform what he has made me promise, should Carteret ever
stand at my disposal. The time may be near or it may be far; but I feel
that it must come."

"And then," asked Alain shyly, "shall not I too have something to expect
from thee: when thou art Bailiff again, and a man high in power, will
thou still be willing to give me thy sister-in-law?"

"Parbleu!" cried Lempriere, "if maids could be given like passports. But
Marguerite will have her way; it is for thee, _coquin_, to make her way
thine."

Thus, jointly labouring at airy castles, the pair of islanders pricked
their steps through the dirty and dimly-lighted streets till they