got enough of his own, and to spare. An
estate of L7000 a year, besides heaps of prize-money funded. I dare say,
he has a good L12,000 a year, and nothing but a nephew to inherit it
all. I'm determined to do as I please with my money. I made every
shilling of it, and I'll give it to whom I please."

The whole time, Admiral Bluewater lay with his eyes shut, and with a
tongue as motionless as if it couldn't stir. With all his _laissez
aller_ manner, however, he had the promptitude of a sailor, when his
mind was made up to do a thing, though he always performed it in his own
peculiar mode. To rise, dress, and prepare to quit his state-room,
occupied him but a short time; and he was seated before his own
writing-desk, in the after-cabin, within twenty minutes after the
thoughts just recorded, had passed through his mind. His first act was
to take a folded paper from a private drawer, and glance his eye
carelessly over it. This was the will in favour of Lord Bluewater: It
was expressed in very concise terms, filling only the first side of a
page. This will he copied, _verbatim et literatim_, leaving blanks for
the name of the legatee, and appointing Sir Gervaise Oakes his executor,
as in the will already executed. When finished in this manner, he set
about filling up the blanks. For a passing instant, he felt tempted to
insert the name of the Pretender; but, smiling at his own folly, he
wrote that of "Mildred Dutton, daughter of Francis Dutton, a master in
His Majesty's Navy," in all the places that it was requisite so to do.
Then he affixed the seal, and, folding all the upper part of the sheet
over, so as to conceal the contents, he rang a little silver bell, which
always stood at his elbow. The outer cabin-door was opened by the
sentry, who thrust his head in at the opening.

"I want one of the young gentlemen, sentry," said the rear-admiral.

The door closed, and, in another minute, the smiling face of Lord
Geoffrey was at the entrance of the after-cabin.

"Who's on deck, my lord," demanded Bluewater, "beside the watch?"

"No one, sir. All the idlers keep as close as foxes, when the decks are
getting it; and as for any of our snorers showing their faces before six
bells, it's quite out of the question, sir."

"Some one must surely be stirring in the gun-room, by this time! Go and
ask the chaplain and the captain of marines to do me the favour to step
into the cabin--or the first lieutenant; or the master; or any of