118 TEAVEL, ADVENTUKE, AND SPORT. 



He threw me a pretty little three-cornered, rose- 

 coloured, scented note, whose superscription set my 

 heart palpitating. It was the caligraphy of Virgiiiie 



G , and addressed itself, comprehensively, " To 



all whom it might concern." 



In pretty mock heroics, it set forth the commands 

 of certain undersigned fair inhabitants of the colony, 

 to all and sundry the officers of her Majesty's th 

 Eegiment, to repair to a spot some little distance on 

 the other side of the harbour, there to hold fete 

 champetre, by way of parting festivity. I looked 

 over the names of the fair despots, and saw that 

 among them were most of those who had especially 

 made happy the last few years of my experience. 



Virginie G herself was certainly the one on 



whom I thought the most frequently in connection 

 with the two days that alone remained to me. 



" My dear fellow," said I, when I had spelt over 

 the list of names, "here is enough to tempt one ; but 

 let us be discreet as we grow old. What can come 

 of my going, but fresh regrets ? Can I forget that 

 in two days I am off, bag and baggage, and that some 

 new fellow will succeed to all my tender interests 

 here, just as naturally as he will to my quarters 1 " 

 Hamilton had lit a cigar, and smoked on thus far 

 in silence, though I felt that he was watching me. 



" I have not done my business yet," said he, " nor 

 shall I without a little bit of treachery. Virginie 

 wrote that letter." 



