answer. What sort of
work he will make with the Frenchman's flags, is another matter. I
doubt, too, if he had the wit to carry one of our books with him, in
which case he will be at a loss to read our signal. Try him, however,
Bunting; an Irishman always has _something_ to say, though it be a
bull."

This order given, Sir Gervaise descended to his cabin. In half an hour
the party was seated at table, as quietly as if nothing unusual had
occurred that day.

"The worst of these little brushes which lead to nothing, is that they
leave as strong a smell of gunpowder in your cabin, Greenly, as if a
whole fleet had been destroyed," observed the vice-admiral
good-humouredly, as he began to help his guests. "I hope the odour we
have here will not disturb your appetites, gentlemen."

"You do this day's success injustice, Sir Gervaise, in calling it only a
brush," answered the captain, who, to say the truth, had fallen to as
heartily upon the delicacies of Galleygo, as if he had not eaten in
twenty-four hours. "At any rate, it has brushed the spars out of two of
king Louis's ships, and one of them into our hands; ay, and in a certain
sense into our pockets."

"Quite true, Greenly--quite true; but what would it have been if--"

The sudden manner in which the commander-in-chief ceased speaking,
induced his companions to think that he had met with some accident in
eating or drinking; both looked earnestly at him, as if to offer
assistance. He _was_ pale in the face, but he smiled, and otherwise
appeared at his ease.

"It is over, gentlemen," said Sir Gervaise, gently--"we'll think no more
of it."

"I sincerely hope you've not been hit, sir?" said Greenly. "I've known
men hit, who did not discover that they were hurt until some sudden
weakness has betrayed it."

"I believe the French have let me off this time, my good friend--yes, I
think Magrath will be plugging no shot-holes in my hull for this affair.
Sir Wycherly, those eggs are from your own estate, Galleygo having laid
the manor under contribution for all sorts of good things. Try them,
Greenly, as coming from our friend's property."

"Sir Wycherly is a lucky fellow in _having_ an estate," said the
captain. "Few officers of his rank can boast of such an advantage;
though, now and then, an old one is better off."

"That is true enough--hey! Greenly? The army fetches up most of the
fortunes; for your rich fellows like good county quarters and county
balls. I was a