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Barnabas followed the Captain along a so staircase, and here, halfway up, was a s with an alcove where stood a tall, wizen-faced clock with

skeleton hands and a loud, insistent, very deliberate tick; so, up

looly opened, and, having ushered

them into a handsomely furnished chamber, disappeared The Captain

crossed to the hearth, and standing before the eh stock with suddenly petulant fingers,

rather as though he found so

at hisby had vanished quite;

in his place was another--a ray, and careworn beneath the bri down into the erate,

"if you 're ever in need--if you're ever reduced to--destitution,

then, in heaven's nao quietly away and--starve! Deuced

unpleasant, of course, but it's--sooner over, b'gad!"

At thisperson reappeared at a different door,

and uttered the words: "Captain Slingsby,--if you please" Hereupon the Captain visibly

braced himself, squared his shoulders, took off his hat, crossed the

room in a couple of strides, and Barnabas was alone

Now as he sat there waiting, he gradually became aware of a sound