I briefly related the manner in which we had regained the possession of the Dawn.  The two English officers listened attentively, and I could discern a smile of incredulity on the countenance of Clements; while the captain of the Speedy seemed far from satisfied—­though he was not so much disposed to let his real opinion be known.

“This is a very well-concocted and well-told tale, my lord,” said the first, with a sneer; “but I doubt whether it find many believers in the British service.”

“The British service, sir,” I coldly retorted, “is, like all others, liable to reverses and accidents.”

“Not exactly of this nature, Mr. Wallingford, you will yourself admit, on reflection.  But I beg pardon, my lord:  this is your affair—­not mine; and I have been indiscreet in speaking.”

Lord Harry Dermond looked as if he concurred in this sentiment.  He had the pride of official rank, and that of private rank, to the usual degree; and did not exactly like the notion that one so much his inferior in both should take an affair so peculiarly his own out of his hands.  He made a cold acknowledging bow, therefore, in reply, and paused a moment, like a man who reflected, ere he continued the discourse.

“You must be aware, Mr, Wallingford, it is my duty to inquire closely into this matter,” he at length resumed.  “I am just out of port, where my ship has been lying to refit, several weeks, and it is not probable that either of my officers would be in England without reporting himself, had he reached home.”

“It is quite probable, my lord, that neither has reached home.  I saw them picked up, with my own eyes, and by what appeared to me to be an outward-bound West Indiaman.  In that case, they have, most probably, all been carried to one of the West India islands.”

Here Clements handed Lord Harry Desmond a paper with something written on it, in pencil, which the latter read.  After running his eyes over it, the captain nodded his head, and the lieutenant quitted the cabin.  While he was absent, my companion, in a polite manner, gave me the particulars of the combat I had witnessed, going so far as to direct my attention to a paper he had brought on board, to show to Captain Rowley, and which contained the English official account of the whole affair.  On glancing at it, I saw that the presence of the Dawn, on that occasion, was mentioned in ihe report; the name of the ship being given, with an allusion that was not very clear to the general reader, but which was plain enough to me.  It was not long, however, before Clements returned, and, without much ceremony, he informed me that the gun-room mess waited my appearance to sit down to dinner.  On this hint, I rose and took my leave, though I had time to see Marble enter the cabin, and Neb standing by the scuttle-butt, under the charge of the sentinel, ere I dipped my head under hatches.

The dinner lasted near an hour, and Lord Harry Dermond civilly waited all that time, before he again summoned me to the cabin.  I was surprised to find Marble in the outer-cabin, Neb near the door, in waiting, and the two officers with pen, ink, and paper before them, where they had been left by me.