CHAP. VII. "Time moves on, with life's dread changes fraught !" The eighth hour of the third night struck, as captain Beresford threw down his penny, and pushed through the toll-bar; and when he gained the centre of Waterloobridge, he nearly jostled with the same grotesque figure he had already twice encountered. It was a far different night to the two preceding; a brisk breeze had sprung up, and had blown away the clouds; and though it was dark, it was cold and dry. Still resolved to be accosted, rather than to accost, Beresford passed the stranger, and pausing on the centre arch, leant upon the parapet, and looked towards the water. The stranger turned abruptly round, and pressing close beside him-" What seek seek you here, upon Waterloo-bridge?" he asked. "I might well propose the like query," returned Beresford; " for three successive nights, I find you here, true as time and tide." "That is no reply to my question," quickly rejoined the stranger. "I did ask, and I ask again—what seek you here upon Waterloo-bridge ?" "One would suspect you trained to the bar," remarked Sydney, smiling at the categorical manner; " yet if it must needs be, I paid the toll-charge, and am here for my own pleasure." "Not star-gazing," bluntly observed the stranger, for there is not a star in 66 the whole firmament." "If I were a star-gazer," said Beresford, quaintly, "I should seek a spot better suited to the study: the noise and bustle of this world invites not to heavenly contemplation." 66 Well, well," impatiently, "star-gaz ing, or moon-gazing, I care not. It could not be pleasure which brought you here, in sleet and rain, the tenth of February, and chained you upon the bridge, from eight to ten o'clock; and again the eleventh of February; and again on this twelfth of February." "I am little accustomed to such tasking," said Beresford: "but as it suits my humour, I will candidly admit, I came to follow up an adventure, which I judged might end in other than smoke." 66 Umph," said the stranger; then, after the pause of a moment-" Trace ye no fire in the smoke?" ""Tis said," replied Beresford, "no smoke exists without fire, else I should not guess it." "Sir, sir, we may stand prating and cavilling here till midnight. Will you be pleased to give me one plain answer to one plain question ?" 66 Propose it, sir." "Was it accident which led you to Waterloo Waterloo-bridge, on the tenth of February, at eight o'clock at night?" "No, sir, it was design." "Design," eagerly echoed the stranger; "what may have been the design?" "I am not bound to tell you." "You are wary, sir; you are discreet, sir, and I like you the better. One more answer-I do earnestly crave one more answer to one more question, and the riddle may be solved." Beresford bowed and smiled. 66 In this bustling, money-making, overgrown London, do you seek to know what is passing beyond your nose?" "I cannot guess your meaning, sir." "Pshaw! do you like news? Do you read the newspapers?" 66 Every morning of my life I read the Times newspaper. 66 دو By Jove, the very best paper going," said the stranger, joyously. "Now belike we may understand each other better, for the Times newspaper is at the bottom of all this. If you are the lad I take you to be, there can be no call for longer caution. The Times newspaper brought me here, and the Times newspaper brought you here; and now answer me, you were born in-" 66 66 66 Britain, sir,” interrupting him. Ay, sir; 'tis all British ground which lies under the ocean." Beresford spoke proudly and feelingly. "You are a wag, sir-you are a wag,” said the stranger, dryly. "The wooden walls of old England bears her flag and Belike I am not take the her fire over half the globe. "On the ocean, sir," again interrupted Beresford; "rocked by the billows, and cradled by the roughest nurse which nature ever fashioned. But though the form was rude and unsightly, though the manners were bluff and ungentle, the heart, full of kindliness and feeling, was pure |