Queer things, omens, doubtings, weird clouds, gathered about Hogarth that night. When at eleven he gave audience to Admiral Quilter-Beckett, arrived from the Boodah Quilter-Beckett said: “Strange the fine weather here: at sea it is quite rough, the Boodah well under foam, and that old Campania pitches so—”
“You have come, then, in the Campania?”—from Hogarth.
“Yes, my Lord King”.
“And what about the yacht?”
“Oh, the yacht: in her I have sent the two hundred men to the Mahomet”.
“Which two hundred men, Admiral?”
Quilter-Beckett stared.
“Your Lordship's Majesty has forgotten: I had instructions that you desired some interchanges among the garrisons, and had ordered the sending of two hundred of my men to the Mahomet, I to receive in return two hundred from her”.
“And you have sent your two hundred?”
“Yes, my Lord King”.