"
Captain Salt shot a searching glance at the couple, who coloured and
seemed confused.
"What is this?" he cried, examining the reckoning. "Two ducks!"
"Ah, I'm afraid it is true that I ate one of the ducks."
"But they were for his Majesty!"
"It appears they were cooked on the chance of pleasing his Majesty,
who left, however, without inquiring for them. The landlord and his
wife have just eaten the other. Is it time to start?"
"Yes."
Tristram jumped up and stretched himself, smiling amiably on the host
and hostess, who returned his look with no very good will. Captain
Salt, having made the proper deductions calmly, paid the reckoning,
and they left the house.
Outside the weather was still dirty, and a wind, which had gradually
risen since the morning, blew in their faces charged with chilly
moisture. The mist, however, had cleared a little, and Tristram, as
he rammed his hat tightly on his head before facing the night, could
see the lights of the squadron far out upon the black and broken
waters of the Maese.
"In what ship do we return?" he asked.
The wind apparently drowned his question; for Captain Salt started
off without replying and led the way down across the sandbanks.
It seemed to Tristram that their path lay to the left of that by
which they had approached the inn early in the morning.
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