Sir Denzil's pinch of snuff cast libellous doubts on Providence.
"You design them for the army, I presume?" asked Eager.
"Unless one should show an inclination for the Church," said the old cynic suavely. "Which I should be inclined to look upon as a clear indication of his origin."
"I'm not so sure of that," said Eager, with a smile. "The Church has its heroes no less than the army."
"You will find them difficult to handle."
"We shall soon be good friends. I'm going to begin by teaching them to swim."
Sir Denzil looked at him thoughtfully and said:
"That might undoubtedly relieve the situation. It is a dangerous coast. If you could drown one of them for me----"
"I am going to make men of them. I can't make a man out of a drowned boy. I will take every care of them, and some time you will be proud of them."
"Of one of them possibly. The question is, which?"