Perhaps, after all, the indifferent official of Alexandria was right and the Commodore had ambitions in the line of revues! "I had better go and have it out with him," he decided, and, taking his hat and stick, he walked eastwards to Charing Cross.

He turned into a short street.

At the bottom a stone arch showed where once the Thames had lapped.

Now, beyond its grey-white curve, were glimpses of green lawns and the cries of children at their play.

Hillyard stopped at a house by the side of the arch.