But if you will let me accompany you and pass you through the park gates, I will gladly hasten my return, and start--shall we say ?--at half-past four." He would take no denial, but rose and left them, waving his hand, smiling, and turning, after a dozen steps, to call back and assure them he would be punctual.
"He has the very same eyes," Captain Barker muttered, watching him as he disappeared between the trees.
"I remarked it, too," assented Captain Runacles, who understood the allusion at once.

"I'd no notion there was such another pair of eyes in the world." "We'd better adopt him, Jerry," the little man went on, with a wry and hopeless smile; "for it's little chance we have of finding the other one." He gulped as he uttered the last three words, and blinked at the broad sunshine behind the awning.
"The fact is, Jack, the doctor let you out too soon." "Eh ?" "You're not fit to travel, but ought to be between the blankets at this moment." "Jerry, that's false, and you know it." "Oh, do I?
Then you'd best give over talking nonsense, or by the Lord I'll take you off and put you to bed this instant! And, what's more, I'll call in a Dutch doctor." Captain Barker could not deny that the rest beneath the awning was welcome.

The road from Scheveningen had been hot and dusty, and his illness had left him weaker than even his comrade imagined.

They sat sipping their beer and gazing at the crowd till the town chimes rang out and announced half-past four.

At the first note they saw their young friend advancing from the Buitenhof.
"Here I am, you see.