Троє в човні крім собаки

           Welookeduptheriveranddowntheriver;notasoulwasinsight! 

           Twentyminuteslater,threefigures,followedbyashamed-lookingdog,mighthavebeenseencreepingstealthilyfromtheboat-houseatthe"Swan"towardstherailwaystation,dressedinthefollowingneitherneatnorgaudycostume: 

           Blackleathershoes,dirty;suitofboatingflannels,verydirty;brownfelthat,muchbattered;mackintosh,verywet;umbrella. 

           WehaddeceivedtheboatmanatPangbourne. Wehadnothadthefacetotellhimthatwewererunningawayfromtherain. Wehadlefttheboat,andallitcontained,inhischarge,withinstructionsthatitwastobereadyforusatninethenextmorning. If,wesaid—ifanythingunforeseenshouldhappen,preventingourreturn,wewouldwritetohim. 

           WereachedPaddingtonatseven,anddrovedirecttotherestaurantIhavebeforedescribed,wherewepartookofalightmeal,leftMontmorency,togetherwithsuggestionsforasuppertobereadyathalf-pastten,andthencontinuedourwaytoLeicesterSquare. 

           WeattractedagooddealofattentionattheAlhambra. OnourpresentingourselvesatthepayboxweweregrufflydirectedtogoroundtoCastleStreet,andwereinformedthatwewerehalf-an-hourbehindourtime. 

           Weconvincedtheman,withsomedifficulty,thatwewerenot"theworld-renownedcontortionistsfromtheHimalayaMountains,"andhetookourmoneyandletuspass. 

           Insidewewereastillgreatersuccess.