"
Captain Barker groaned.
"May it please your Majesty," said Captain Jemmy, thrusting himself
forward, "but Roderick Salt's the damn'dest villain in your service;
and that's saying a good deal. I mean no offence, of course."
"Of course not," commented the Earl of Portland, who was hugely
delighted.
"I believe that opinion is held by some," his Majesty observed, with
a side-glance at his friend.
"Not by me," said Portland tranquilly. "There are worse than Salt--
whom, after all, your Majesty has neither enriched nor ennobled."
William frowned. For a moment or two he stood, scraping the gravel
gently with the side of his boot. At last he spoke:
"Gentlemen, I thank you for your offer; and some day I may take
advantage of it to command you: for honest men (however wrong-headed)
and good commanders"--this with a slight bow--"are always scarce.
For the moment, however, I should feel that I wronged you by
accepting your service."
"Your Majesty is good to us. But our word holds."
"I thank you. I had guessed that. Nevertheless, I advise you, just
now, to return to England and wait. I have some knowledge of Captain
Salt's movements; and when last your lad was heard of he had parted
company with his father and was making for the coast.
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