Page:Man Who Laughs (Estes and Lauriat 1869) v1.djvu/293

Rh "Be it so. Elizabeth understood. A country the more for Holland was a country the less for England. The bottle which had given the information was considered of importance; and thenceforward an order was issued that anybody who should find a sealed bottle on the sea-shore should take it to the Lord High Admiral of England, under penalty of the gallows. The Admiral intrusts the opening of such bottles to an officer, who presents the contents to the Queen, if there be any reason for so doing."

"Are many such bottles brought to the Admiralty?"

"But few. But it's all the same. The appointment exists. There is a room and lodgings at the Admiralty for the official."

"And what is one paid for this kind of doing nothing?"

"One hundred guineas a year."

"And thou wouldst trouble me for that much?"

"It is enough to live upon."

"Like a beggar."

"As becomes one of my sort."

"One hundred guineas! It's a bagatelle."

"What keeps you for a minute keeps us for a year. That's the advantage of being poor."

"Thou shalt have the place."

A week afterwards, thanks to Josiana's exertions and to the influence of Lord David Dirry-Moir, Barkilphedro was installed at the Admiralty,—safe thenceforward, drawn out of his precarious existence, lodged, and boarded, with a salary of a hundred guineas.