The colonel then apologised to Newton, while he repaired to the bath, and in a few minutes returned, having undergone this necessary ablution after a mango feast.

His dress was changed, and he offered the appearance of an upright, gentleman-like, hard-featured man, who had apparently gone through a great deal of service without his stamina having been much impaired.
"I beg your pardon, my dear sir, for detaining you.

May I request the pleasure of your name and the occasion of your providential visit ?" "I have a letter for you, sir," replied Newton, who had been intrusted with the one which Mr Revel had given to his daughters on their embarkation.
"Oh! a letter of introduction.

It is now quite superfluous, you have already introduced yourself." "No, sir, it is not a letter of recommendation in my behalf, but to announce the arrival of your three grand-nieces--daughters of the Honourable Mr Revel--in the _Bombay Castle_, the ship to which I belong." "What ?" roared the colonel, "my three grand-nieces! daughters of Mr Revel!" "So I have understood from them, sir." The colonel tore open the letter, in which Mr Revel very coolly informed him that not having received any answers to his former epistles on the subject, he presumed that they had miscarried, and had therefore been induced, in consequence of the difficulties which he laboured under, to send his daughters out to his kind protection.

The colonel, as soon as he had finished the perusal of the letter, tore it into pieces again and again, every renewed action showing an increase of excitement.