"
"To be sure. Make haste, then, and fetch your hat, or we shall be
too late to save the boy."
Captain Runacles waited at the foot of the garden, while his friend
hurried into the house and returned in something like glee.
"We are lucky. Narcissus tells me his Majesty is sleeping ashore at
Thomas Langley's house in Church Street. It seems that his cabin was
not put rightly in order aboard the _Mary_ yacht, and he won't embark
until he has broken his fast."
"Come along, then!" said Captain Jemmy, opening the gate. "We may
catch him before he goes on board."
But scarcely had the pair set foot in the road outside when a voice
commanded them to halt.
In front of them, barring the highway towards Harwich, stood a
sergeant, with half a dozen soldiers at his back. They seemed to
have sprung out of the hedge.
"Pardon, gentlemen; but you are walking towards Harwich."
"We are."
"My orders are to forbid it."
"Who gave you that order?"
"The General."
"What? The Earl of Marlborough?"
"Yes."
"So this is how he trusts our word!" muttered Captain Runacles.
"But, excuse me," he added aloud, "our business is with his Majesty."
"I am truly sorry, gentlemen."
"You decline to let us pass?"
"I hope you will not insist.
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