“Do as you please; but I will not bide a suitor much longer,” said the stranger in bitterness.  “Congress gave me to understand that, upon my arrival here, I should be given immediate command of the Indien; and now, for no earthly reason that I can see, you Commissioners have presented her, fresh from the stocks at Amsterdam, to the King of France, and not to me.  What does the King of France with such a frigate?  And what can I not do with her?  Give me back the “Indien,” and in less than one month, you shall hear glorious or fatal news of Paul Jones.”

“Come, come, Captain,” said Doctor Franklin, soothingly, “tell me now, what would you do with her, if you had her?”

“I would teach the British that Paul Jones, though born in Britain, is no subject to the British King, but an untrammelled citizen and sailor of the universe; and I would teach them, too, that if they ruthlessly ravage the American coasts, their own coasts are vulnerable as New Holland’s.  Give me the Indien, and I will rain down on wicked England like fire on Sodom.”

These words of bravado were not spoken in the tone of a bravo, but a prophet.  Erect upon his chair, like an Iroquois, the speaker’s look was like that of an unflickering torch.

His air seemed slightly to disturb the old sage’s philosophic repose, who, while not seeking to disguise his admiration of the unmistakable spirit of the man, seemed but illy to relish his apparent measureless boasting.

As if both to change the subject a little, as well as put his visitor in better mood—­though indeed it might have been but covertly to play with his enthusiasm—­the man of wisdom now drew his chair confidentially nearer to the stranger’s, and putting one hand in a very friendly, conciliatory way upon his visitor’s knee, and rubbing it gently to and fro there, much as a lion-tamer might soothingly manipulate the aggravated king of beasts, said in a winning manner:—­“Never mind at present, Captain, about the ‘Indien’ affair.  Let that sleep a moment.  See now, the Jersey privateers do us a great deal of mischief by intercepting our supplies.  It has been mentioned to me, that if you had a small vessel—­say, even your present ship, the ’Amphitrite,’—­then, by your singular bravery, you might render great service, by following those privateers where larger ships durst not venture their bottoms; or, if but supported by some frigates from Brest at a proper distance, might draw them out, so that the larger vessels could capture them.”

“Decoy-duck to French frigates!—­Very dignified office, truly!” hissed Paul in a fiery rage.  “Doctor Franklin, whatever Paul Jones does for the cause of America, it must be done through unlimited orders:  a separate, supreme command; no leader and no counsellor but himself.  Have I not already by my services on the American coast shown that I am well worthy all this?  Why then do you seek to degrade me below my previous level?  I will mount, not sink.  I live but for honor and glory.  Give me, then, something honorable and glorious to do, and something famous to do it with.  Give me the Indien”