‘I think myself of having a yacht this summer,’ said the Duke of St. James. ‘Be my captain, Squib.’
‘If you be serious I will commence my duties tomorrow.’
‘I am serious. I think it will be amusing. I give you full authority to do exactly what you like, provided, in two months’ time, I have the crack vessel in the club.’
‘I begin to press. Annesley, your dinner is so good that you shall be purser; and Darrell, you are a man of business, you shall be his clerk. For the rest, I think St. Maurice may claim a place, and——’
‘Peacock Piggott, by all means,’ said the Duke. ‘A gay sailor is quite the thing.’
‘And Charles Fitzroy,’ said Annesley, ‘because I am under obligations to him, and promised to have him in my eye.’
‘And Bagshot for a butt,’ said the Duke.
‘And Backbite for a buffoon,’ said Mr. Annesley.
‘And for the rest,’ said the young Duke, ‘the rest of the crew, I vote, shall be women. The Dalmaines will just do.’
‘And the little Trevors,’ said Lord Darrell.