The Two Admirals (17 page)

The two admirals exchanged glances, and the look of kindness that each
met in the eyes of his friend removed every shadow that had been cast
athwart their feelings, by the previous discourse.

"That will do, Galleygo," returned Sir Gervaise, mildly. "You're a good
fellow in the main, though a villanously rough one—"

"A little of old Boreus, Sir Jarvy," interrupted the steward, with a
grim smile: "but it blows harder at sea than it does ashore. These chaps
on land, ar'n't battened down, and caulked for such weather, as we sons
of Neptun' is obligated to face."

"Quite true, and so good-night. Admiral Bluewater and myself wish to
confer together, for half an hour; all that it is proper for you to
know, shall be communicated another time."

"Good-night, and God bless your honour. Good-night, Admiral Blue: we
three is the men as can keep any secret as ever floated, let it draw as
much water as it pleases."

Sir Gervaise Oakes stopped in his walk, and gazed at his friend with
manifest interest, as he perceived that Admiral Bluewater was running
over his letter for the third time. Being now without a witness, he did
not hesitate to express his apprehensions.

"'Tis as I feared, Dick!" he cried. "That letter is from some prominent
partisan of Edward Stuart?"

The rear-admiral turned his eyes on the face of his friend, with an
expression that was difficult to read; and then he ran over the contents
of the epistle, for the fourth time.

"A set of precious rascals they are, Gervaise!" at length the
rear-admiral exclaimed. "If the whole court was culled, I question if
enough honesty could be found to leaven one puritan scoundrel. Tell me
if you know this hand, Oakes? I question if you ever saw it before."

The superscription of the letter was held out to Sir Gervaise, who,
after a close examination, declared himself unacquainted with the
writing.

"I thought as much," resumed Bluewater, carefully tearing the signature
from the bottom of the page, and burning it in a candle; "let this
disgraceful part of the secret die, at least. The fellow who wrote this,
has put 'confidential' at the top of his miserable scrawl: and a most
confident scoundrel he is, for his pains. However, no man has a right to
thrust himself, in this rude manner, between me and my oldest friend;
and least of all will I consent to keep this piece of treachery from
your knowledge. I do more than the rascal merits in concealing his name;
nevertheless, I shall not deny myself the pleasure of sending him such
an answer as he deserves. Read that, Oakes, and then say if keelhauling
would be too good for the writer."

Sir Gervaise took the letter in silence, though not without great
surprise, and began to peruse it. As he proceeded, the colour mounted to
his temples, and once he dropped his hand, to cast a look of wonder and
indignation towards his companion. That the reader may see how much
occasion there was for both these feelings, we shall give the
communication entire. It was couched in the following words:

"DEAR ADMIRAL BLUEWATER:

"Our ancient friendship, and I am proud to add, affinity of blood,
unite in inducing me to write a line, at this interesting moment.
Of the result of this rash experiment of the Pretender's son, no
prudent man can entertain a doubt. Still, the boy may give us some
trouble, before he is disposed of altogether. We look to all our
friends, therefore, for their most efficient exertions, and most
prudent co-operation. On
you
, every reliance is placed; and I
wish I could say as much for
every flag-officer afloat
. Some
distrust—unmerited, I sincerely hope—exists in a very high
quarter, touching the loyalty of a certain commander-in-chief, who
is so completely under your observation, that it is felt enough is
done in hinting the fact to one of your political tendencies. The
king said, this morning, 'Vell, dere isht Bluevater; of
him
we
are shure asht of ter sun.' You stand excellently well
there
, to
my great delight; and I need only say, be watchful and prompt.

"Yours, with the most sincere faith and attachment, my dear
Bluewater, &c., &c.

"REAR-ADMIRAL BLUEWATER.

"P. S.—I have just heard that they have sent you the red riband.
The king himself, was in this."

When Sir Gervaise had perused this precious epistle to himself, he read
it slowly, and in a steady, clear voice, aloud. When he had ended, he
dropped the paper, and stood gazing at his friend.

"One would think the fellow some exquisite satirist," said Bluewater,
laughing. "
I
am to be vigilant, and see that
you
do not mutiny, and
run away with the fleet to the Highlands, one of these foggy mornings!
Carry it up into Scotland, as Galleygo has it! Now, what is your opinion
of that letter?"

"That all courtiers are knaves, and all princes ungrateful. I should
think my loyalty to the good
cause
, if not to the
man
, the last in
England to be suspected."

"Nor is it suspected, in the smallest degree. My life on it, neither the
reigning monarch, nor his confidential servants, are such arrant dunces,
as to be guilty of so much weakness. No, this masterly move is intended
to secure
me
, by creating a confidence that they think no
generous-minded man would betray. It is a hook, delicately baited to
catch a gudgeon, and not an order to watch a whale."

"Can the scoundrels be so mean—nay, dare they be so bold! They must
have known you would show me the letter."

"Not they—they have reasoned on my course, as they would on their own.
Nothing catches a weak man sooner than a pretended confidence of this
nature; and I dare say this blackguard rates me just high enough to
fancy I may be duped in this flimsy manner. Put your mind at rest; King
George knows he may confide in
you
, while I think it probable
I
am
distrusted."

"I hope, Dick, you do not suspect
my
discretion! My own secret would
not be half so sacred to me."

"I know that, full well. Of
you
, I entertain no distrust, either in
heart or head; of myself, I am not quite so certain. When we
feel
, we
do not always
reason
; and there is as much feeling, as any thing else,
in this matter."

"Not a line is there, in all my despatches, that go to betray the
slightest distrust of me, or any one else. You are spoken of, but it is
in a manner to gratify you, rather than to alarm. Take, and read them
all; I intended to show them to you, as soon as we had got through with
that cursed discussion"

As Sir Gervaise concluded, he threw the whole package of letters on the
table, before his friend.

"It will be time enough, when you summon me regularly to a council of
war," returned Bluewater, laying the letters gently aside. "Perhaps we
had better sleep on this affair; in the morning we shall meet with
cooler heads, and just as warm hearts."

"Good-night, Dick," said Sir Gervaise, holding out both hands for the
other to shake as he passed him, in quitting the room.

"Good-night, Gervaise; let this miserable devil go overboard, and think
no more of him. I have half a mind to ask you for a leave, to-morrow,
just to run up to London, and cut off his ears."

Sir Gervaise laughed and nodded his head, and the two friends parted,
with feelings as kind as ever had distinguished their remarkable career.

"Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest.
Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise;
An' you be mine, I'll give you to my friend;
An' you be not, hang, beg, starve, die i' the streets."

ROMEO AND JULIET.

Wychecombe Hall, had most of the peculiarities of a bachelor's dwelling,
in its internal government; nor was it, in any manner, behind, or, it
might be better to say, before, the age, in its modes and customs
connected with jollifications. When its master relaxed a little, the
servants quite uniformly imitated his example. Sir Wycherly kept a
plentiful table, and the servants' hall fared nearly as well as the
dining-room; the single article of wine excepted. In lieu of the latter,
however, was an unlimited allowance of double-brewed ale; and the
difference in the potations was far more in the name, than in the
quality of the beverages. The master drank port; for, in the middle of
the last century, few Englishmen had better wine—and port, too, that
was by no means of a very remarkable delicacy, but which, like those who
used it, was rough, honest, and strong; while the servant had his malt
liquor of the very highest stamp and flavour. Between indifferent wine
and excellent ale, the distance is not interminable; and Sir Wycherly's
household, was well aware of the fact, having frequently instituted
intelligent practical comparisons, by means of which, all but the butler
and Mrs. Larder had come to the conclusion to stand by the home-brewed.

On the present occasion, not a soul in the house was ignorant of the
reason why the baronet was making a night of it. Every man, woman, and
child, in or about the Hall, was a devoted partisan of the house of
Hanover; and as soon as it was understood that this feeling was to be
manifested by drinking "success to King George, and God bless him," on
the one side; and "confusion to the Pretender, and his mad son," on the
other; all under the roof entered into the duty, with a zeal that might
have seated a usurper on a throne, if potations could do it.

When Admiral Bluewater, therefore, left the chamber of his friend, the
signs of mirth and of a regular debauch were so very obvious, that a
little curiosity to watch the result, and a disinclination to go off to
his ship so soon, united to induce him to descend into the rooms below,
with a view to get a more accurate knowledge of the condition of the
household. In crossing the great hall, to enter the drawing-room, he
encountered Galleygo, when the following discourse took place.

"I should think the master-at-arms has not done his duty, and dowsed the
glim below, Master Steward," said the rear-admiral, in his quiet way, as
they met; "the laughing, and singing, and hiccupping, are all upon a
very liberal scale for a respectable country-house."

Galleygo touched the lock of hair on his forehead, with one hand, and
gave his trowsers a slue with the other, before he answered; which he
soon did, however, though with a voice a little thicker than was usual
with him, on account of his having added a draught or two to those he
had taken previously to visiting Sir Gervaise's dressing-room; and which
said additional draught or two, had produced some such effect on his
system, as the fresh drop produces on the cup that is already full.

"That's just it, Admiral Blue," returned the steward, in passing
good-humour, though still sober enough to maintain the decencies, after
his own fashion; "that's just it, your honour. They've passed the word
below to let the lights stand for further orders, and have turned the
hands up for a frolic. Such ale as they has, stowed in the lower hold of
this house, like leaguers in the ground-tier, it does a body's heart
good to conter'plate. All hands is bowsing out their jibs on it, sir,
and the old Hall will soon be carrying as much sail as she can stagger
under. It's nothing but loose-away and sheet-home."

"Ay, ay, Galleygo, this may be well enough for the people of the
household, if Sir Wycherly allows it; but it ill becomes the servants of
guests to fall into this disorder. If I find Tom has done any thing
amiss, he will hear more of it; and as your own master is not here to
admonish
you
, I'll just take the liberty of doing it for him, since I
know it would mortify him exceedingly to learn that his steward had done
any thing to disgrace himself."

"Lord bless your dear soul, Admiral Blue, take just as many liberties as
you think fit, and I'll never pocket one on 'em. I know'd you, when you
was only a young gentleman, and now you're a rear. You're close on our
heels; and by the time we are a full admiral, you'll be something like a
vice. I looks upon you as bone of our bone, and flesh of our
flesh,—Pillardees and Arrestees—and I no more minds a setting-down
from your honour, than I does from Sir Jarvy, hisself."

"I believe that is true enough, Galleygo; but take my advice, and knock
off with the ale for to-night. Can you tell me how the land lies, with
the rest of the company?"

"You couldn't have asked a better person, your honour, as I've just been
passing through all the rooms, from a sort of habit I has, sir; for,
d'ye see, I thought I was in the old Planter, and that it was my duty to
overlook every thing, as usual. The last pull at the ale, put that
notion in my head; but it's gone now, and I see how matters is. Yes,
sir, the mainmast of a church isn't stiffer and more correct-like, than
my judgment is, at this blessed moment. Sir Wycherly guv' me a glass of
his black-strap, as I ran through the dining-room, and told me to drink
'Confusion to the Pretender,' which I did, with hearty good-will; but
his liquor will no more lay alongside of the ale they've down on the
orlop, than a Frenchman will compare with an Englishman. What's your
opinion, Admiral Blue, consarning this cruise of the Pretender's son, up
in the Highlands of Scotland?"

Bluewater gave a quick, distrustful glance at the steward, for he knew
that the fellow was half his time in the outer cabin and pantries of the
Plantagenet, and he could not tell how much of his many private
dialogues with Sir Gervaise, might have been overheard. Meeting with
nothing but the unmeaning expression of one half-seas-over, his
uneasiness instantly subsided.

"I think it a gallant enterprise, Galleygo," he answered; too manly even
to feign what he did not believe; "but I fear as a
cruise
, it will not
bring much prize-money. You have forgotten you were about to tell me how
the land lies. Sir Wycherly, Mr. Dutton, Mr. Rotherham, are still at the
table, I fancy—are these all? What have become of the two young
gentlemen?"