In truth, a much greater fool than McAndrews might have predicted that end.
On Monday Judge Bordley accompanied me as far as Dingley's tavern, and showed much emotion at parting.
"You need have no fears for your friends at Gordon's Pride, Richard," said he. "And when the General comes back, I shall try to give him a good account of my stewardship."
The General! That title brought old Stanwix's cobwebbed prophecy into my head again. Here, surely, was the war which he had foretold, and I ready to embark in it.
Why not the sea, indeed?
CHAPTER LI
HOW AN IDLE PROPHECY CAME TO PASS
Captain Clapsaddle not being at his lodgings, I rode on to the Coffee
House to put up my horse. I was stopped by Mr. Claude.
"Why, Mr. Carvel," says he, "I thought you on the Eastern Shore. There is a gentleman within will be mightily tickled to see you, or else his protestations are lies, which they may very well be. His name? Now, 'Pon my faith, it was Jones—no more."
This thing of being called for at the Coffee House stirred up unpleasant associations.