st down by one of the night coaches to Dover. I
therefore begged the first lieutenant to order my certificate of
pilotage to be made out, and to inquire if I could take anything down to
Deal for the captain. A few minutes afterwards I was summoned down to
the captain. I found him sitting at his table with wine before him. My
certificates, which the clerk had before made out, were signed, but my
name was not inserted.

"I must have your name, pilot, to fill in here."

"Thomas Saunders, Sir James," replied I.

"Well, my lad, you're young for a pilot; but you appear to know your
business well, and you have brought this ship up in good style. Here
are your certificates," said he, as he filled in my name.

I had my spy-glass in my hand, and, to take up the certificates and fold
them to fit them into my tin case, I laid my glass down on the table
close to him. Sir James looked at it as if surprised, took it up in his
hand, turned it round, and appeared quite taken aback. He then looked
at the brass rim where the name had been erased, and perceived where it
had been filed away.

"Mr Saunders," said he at last, "if not taking a liberty, may I ask
where you procured this spy-glass?"

"Yes, Sir James, it was given me by a person who has been very kind to
me ever since I was a boy."

"Mr Saunders, I beg your pardon--I do not ask this question out of mere
curiosity--I have seen this glass before; it once belonged to a very
dear friend of mine. Can you give me any further information? You said
it was given you by--"

"A very amiable woman, Sir James."

"Did she ever tell you how it came into her hands?"

"She never did, sir."

"Mr Saunders, oblige me by sitting down; and if you can give me any
information on this point, you will confer on me a very great favour.
Can you tell me what sort of a person this lady is--where she lives--and
what countrywoman she is?"

"Yes, Sir James; I will first state that she is Irish, and that she
lives at present at Greenwich." I then described her person.

"This is strange, very strange," said Sir James, with his hand up to his
forehead as he leant his elbow on the table.

After a pause, "Mr Saunders, will you answer me one question candidly?
I feel I am not speaking to a mere Thames pilot--I do not wish to
compliment, and if I did not feel as I state, I should not put these
questions. Do you not know more about this person than you appear
willing to divulge? There is so