'
Tom made a good dinner, notwithstanding he was conscious that
hundreds of eyes followed each morsel to his mouth and watched him eat
it with an interest which could not have been more intense if it had
been a deadly explosive and was expected to blow him up and scatter
him all over the place. He was careful not to hurry, and equally
careful not to do anything whatever for himself, but wait till the
proper official knelt down and did it for him. He got through
without a mistake- flawless and precious triumph.
When the meal was over at last and he marched away in the midst of
his bright pageant, with the happy noises in his ears of blaring
bugles, rolling drums, and thundering acclamations, he felt that if he
had seen the worst of dining in public, it was an ordeal which he
would be glad to endure several times a day if by that means he
could but buy himself free from some of the more formidable
requirements of his royal office.
CHAPTER XVII
Foo-foo the First
MILES Hendon hurried along toward the Southwark end of the bridge,
keeping a sharp lookout for the persons he sought, and hoping and
expecting to overtake them presently. He was disappointed in this,
however. By asking questions, he was enabled to track them part of the
way through Southwark; then all traces ceased, and he was perplexed as
to how to proceed. Still, he continued his efforts as best he could
during the rest of the day. Nightfall found him leg-weary, half
famished, and his desire as far from accomplishment as ever; so he
supped at the Tabard inn and went to bed, resolved to make an early
start in the morning, and give the town an exhaustive search.
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