“I must get you, Mr Voules, to repeat the account you have given of the action for my benefit, as Reginald is wonderfully reticent on the subject,” said the marquis.
“I shall have great pleasure, my lord,” answered Voules, bowing.
“In the mean time, do me the honour of taking wine, and we will afterwards drink a bumper round to the future success of the Wolf,” said the marquis.
“The very toast I was going to propose,” said an old general, who had long since been placed on the shelf. “Though my fighting days are over, an account such as we have just heard warms up my stagnant blood, and I beg to second your lordship’s proposal.”
“Charge your glasses, gentlemen, and I hope, ladies, that on this occasion you will join us,” exclaimed the master of the house.
No one declining, the fair sex put out their more moderately sized glasses to be filled as the bottle went round. The toast was drunk, the whole party standing, with the exception of the two midshipmen, who, with assumed modest looks, retained their places.
“And now we will give three cheers for our naval heroes,” cried the old general, making an effort to stand up on his chair, but giving it up, as he reflected on the danger he might run of toppling over among the dishes which still covered the board.
“Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!” and the supper-room rang with the sounds, which were taken up by the servants outside and repeated in the hall below, where the domestics not in waiting were making merry.
When all the guests sat down they looked at the two midshipmen, while Reginald made signs to Voules to speak.
“You are the eldest, old fellow, and having been longest in the service, it is your business to reply.”