Madam does fancy the lad--an' he's no bad lookin', I'll say that--
she may just hae her ain way, and I'll keep my e'e on baith.'

He looked grimly at the young man as he came briskly forward with a
gay smile.

'Ye're a verra early bird,' he said, fondling his frill of white
hair, and looking keenly at the tall, slim figure of the Frenchman.

'Case of "must", my friend,' returned Vandeloup, coolly; 'it's only
rich men can afford to be in bed, not poor devils like me.'

'You're no muckle like ither folk,' said the suspicious old
Scotchman, with a condemnatory sniff.

'Of that I am glad,' retorted Vandeloup, with suavity, as he walked
beside him to the men's quarters. 'What a horrible thing to be the
duplicate of half-a-dozen other men. By the way,' breaking off into
a new subject, 'Madame Midas is charming.'

'Aye, aye,' said Archie, jealously, 'we ken all aboot they French-
fangled way o' gieing pretty words, and deil a scrap of truth in ony
o' them.'

Gaston was about to protest that he said no more than he felt, which
was indeed the truth, but Archie impatiently hurried him off to
breakfast at the office, as he declared himself famishing. They made
a hearty meal, and, having had a smoke and a talk, prepared to go
below.