Mr. Powlett turned out to be a very different sort of person from his brother lieutenant.  There was no mistaking him for anything but a gentleman, or for a sailor.  Beyond a question, he owed his rank in his ship to family influence, and he was one of those scions of aristocracy (by no means the rule, however, among the high-born of England) who never was fit for anything but a carpet-knight, though trained to the seas.  As I afterwards learned, his father held high ministerial rank; a circumstance that accounted for his being the first-lieutenant of a six-and-thirty, at twenty, with a supernumerary lieutenant under him who had been a sailor some years before he was born.  But, the captain of the Speedy, himself, Lord Harry Dermond, was only four-and-twenty; though he had commanded his ship two years, and fought one very creditable action in her.

After making my best bow to Mr. Powlett, and receiving a very gentleman-like salutation in return, Sennit led his brother officer aside, and they had a private conference of some little length together.

“I shall not meddle with the crew, Sennit,” I overheard Powlett say, in a sort of complaining tone, as he walked away from his companion.  “Really, I cannot become the master of a press-gang, though the Speedy had to be worked by her officers.  You are used to this business, and I leave it all to you.”

I understood this to be a carte blanche to Sennit to carry off as many of my people as he saw fit; there being nothing novel or surprising in men’s tolerating in others, acts they would disdain to perform in person.  As soon as he left his junior in rank, the youthful first-lieutenant approached me.  I call him youthful, for he appeared even younger than he was, though I myself had commanded a ship when only of his own age.  It was easy to see that this young man felt he was employed on an affair of some importance.

“It is reported to us, on board the Speedy, sir,” the Hon. Mr. Pewlett commenced, “that you are bound to Hamburg?”

“To Hamburg, sir, as my papers will show.”

“Our government regards all trade with that part of the continent with great distrust, particularly since the late movements of the French.  I really wish, sir, you had not been bound to Hamburg.”

“I believe Hamburg is still a neutral port, sir; and, if it were not, I do not see why an American should not enter it, until actually blockaded.”

“Ah! these are some of your very peculiar American ideas on such subjects!  I cannot agree with you, however, it being my duty to obey my orders.  Lord Harry has desired us to be very rigorous in our examination, and I trust you will understand we must comply, however unpleasant it may be, sir.  I understand, now, sugar and coffee are exceedingly suspicious!”

“They are very innocent things rightly used, as I hope mine will be.”

“Have you any particular interest in the cargo, Captain Wallingford?”