The fact is, there's been a big Navy dinner tonight at the Whitehall Rooms. The enthusiasm became rather forced—Britannia rules the waves, and all that sort of thing—so I gladly thought of finishing up with you. I've brought my nephew—hallo, here he is. [Mr. Saunders enters. He is a pretty boy, almost a child, in the uniform of a naval cadet.] My nephew—Horatio Nelson Drake Saunders, of the Training Ship "Dexterous."
SAUNDERS.
[ With the airs of a little man, but in a treble voice.] How do you do? Awfully pleased to come here.
QUECKETT.
Glad to see you, Mr. Saunders.
MALLORY.
[Laughing, to Saunders.] I say, you shouldn't have left the old gentleman.
SAUNDERS.
[Laughing.] He sent me up to count how many more stairs there were.