"Of course not," commented the Earl of Portland, who was hugely delighted.
"I believe that opinion is held by some," his Majesty observed, with a side-glance at his friend.
"Not by me," said Portland tranquilly. "There are worse than Salt— whom, after all, your Majesty has neither enriched nor ennobled."
William frowned. For a moment or two he stood, scraping the gravel gently with the side of his boot. At last he spoke:
"Gentlemen, I thank you for your offer; and some day I may take advantage of it to command you: for honest men (however wrong-headed) and good commanders"—this with a slight bow—"are always scarce. For the moment, however, I should feel that I wronged you by accepting your service."
"Your Majesty is good to us. But our word holds."
"I thank you. I had guessed that. Nevertheless, I advise you, just now, to return to England and wait. I have some knowledge of Captain Salt's movements; and when last your lad was heard of he had parted company with his father and was making for the coast. I have some quickness in reading character; and there is a certain placid obstinacy in that young man which persuades me he will reach Harwich in time. Return, therefore, and wait with what patience you may. Moreover, Captain Barker, I perceive that you are recovering from some wound."
"Which explains, sire, the tardiness of my submission. I was starting to seek an audience on the morning that you sailed from Harwich, when your soldiers—"
"My soldiers?"
"Yes, sire; but perhaps they erred from abundance of zeal."