“A plague on your dog, Horry,” said my Lord, yawning, and was about to add something worse, when he caught sight of Dorothy.

Mr. Walpole bowed over her hand.

“And have you forgotten so soon your Windsor acquaintances, Mr. Walpole?” she asked, laughing.

“Bless me,” said Horry, looking very hard at me, “so it is, so it is.  Your hand, Mr. Carvel.  You have only to remain in London, sir, to discover that your reputation is ready-made.  I contributed my mite.  For you must know that I am a sort of circulating library of odd news which those devils, the printers, contrive to get sooner or later—­Heaven knows how!  And Miss Manners herself has completed your fame.  Yes, the story of your gallant rescue is in all the clubs to-day.  Egad, sir, you come down heads up, like a loaded coin.  You will soon be a factor in Change Alley.”  And glancing slyly at the blushing Dolly, he continued: 

“I have been many things, Miss Manners, but never before an instrument of Providence.  And so you discovered your rough diamond yesterday, and have polished him in a day.  O that Dr. Franklin had profited as well by our London tailors!  The rogue never told me, when he was ordering me about in his swan-skin, that he had a friend in Arlington Street, and a reigning beauty.  But I like him the better for it.”

“And I the worse,” said Dolly.

“I perceive that he still retains his body-guard,” said Mr. Walpole; “Captain—­”

“Paul,” said Dolly, seeing that we would not help him out.

“Ah, yes.  These young princes from the New World must have their suites.  You must bring them both some day to my little castle at Strawberry Hill.”

“Unfortunately, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Carvel finds that he must return to America,” Mr. Marmaduke interjected.  He had been waiting to get in this word.

Comyn nudged me.  And I took the opportunity, in the awkward silence that followed, to thank Mr. Walpole for sending his coach after us.

“And pray where did you get your learning?” he demanded abruptly of the captain, in his most patronizing way.  “Your talents are wasted at sea, sir.  You should try your fortune in London, where you shall be under my protection, sir.  They shall not accuse me again of stifling young genius.  Stay,” he cried, warming with generous enthusiasm, “stay, I have an opening.  ’Twas but yesterday Lady Cretherton told me that she stood in need of a tutor for her youngest son, and you shall have the position.”

“Pardon me, sir, but I shall not have the position,” said John Paul, coolly.  And Horry might have heeded the danger signal.  I had seen it more than once on board the brigantine John, and knew what was coming.

“Faith, and why not, sir?  If I recommend you, why not, sir?”

“Because I shall not take it,” he said.  “I have my profession, Mr. Walpole, and it is an honourable one.  And I would not exchange it, sir, were it in your power to make me a Gibbon or a Hume, or tutor to his Royal Highness, which it is not.”