’Ha!’ exclaimed the colonel, ’my family.’
Philip looked intently at the party. He at once recognised Salome, and was satisfied that the other in black was Janet. To his great surprise he saw Mrs. Sidebottom and the captain. Who that slender lady was in a light dress he could only conjecture. If he had not been in the carriage with Beaple Yeo, he would have told the driver to stop, and allow him to descend and greet his wife; but the presence at his side of that man determined him to postpone the meeting. He did not wish Salome to see him riding beside her father, as though he had made up his quarrel with him.
He drew back in his place, and looked another way whilst driving past, and Salome, who had caught sight of the well-known waving puggaree, lowered her eyes. Beaple Yeo had his hat off, and was wafting a salutation to the American lady.
Then, when passed, he turned to Philip and said, ’You will do me the favour, I know, not to announce your relationship; ’pon my word, I don’t want to be looked upon as a grandfather, because I don’t feel it. Young blood tingles in my veins.’
The strange lady had stepped aside for the carriage to pass, upon the bank near that side on which Philip sat, and he looked at her as he drove by, looked at her with a feeling of aversion. It was too annoying of Salome to walk out with this questionable individual and meet him as he arrived, thrusting her almost into his face.
On reaching the Hôtel Impérial he had to undergo the annoyance of being taken in hand, patronized and presented by Beaple Yeo. Philip was a bad French scholar, spoke no German, and the English of the proprietor was not understandable till one got used to it.
Philip asked for his room, and said to himself, ’There will be time for me to wash my hands and change my shirt; the collars are limp—not enough stiffening put in them, they will not stand up. _Ici! voyez!_’ to the maid. ’Is there a _boulanger_—no, I mean a _blanchisseuse_ in this place? Wait till my portmanteau is open. I want to have five pocket-handkerchiefs sent at once to the wash. _Ici! voyez!_ soft water, _et point de soda et_ washing-powder.’
When he had delivered over the pocket-handkerchiefs and had assumed a clean shirt, and brushed his hair, and washed his face and hands, he descended to the _salle_, and asked if the ladies had returned from their walk.