On the same evening Lieutenant Ennefer, R.N., sailed down Channel in the
corvette _Solebay_, bound for the China Station. He was engaged to the
second Miss Bulteel, and turned his glass on the old town where his lady
dwelt as he passed by. It was then he logged that Cullerne Tower was
not to be seen, though the air was clear and the ship but six miles from
shore. He rubbed his glass, and called some other officers to verify
the absence of the ancient seamark, but all they could make out was a
white cloud, that might be smoke or dust or mist hanging over the town.
It must be mist, they said; some unusual atmospheric condition must have
rendered the tower invisible.
It was not for many months afterwards that Lieutenant Ennefer heard of
the catastrophe, and when he came up Channel again on his return four
years later, there was the old seamark clear once more, whiter a little,
but still the same old tower. It had been rebuilt at the sole charge of
Lady Blandamer, and in the basement of it was a brass plate to the
memory of Horatio Sebastian Fynes, Lord Blandamer, who had lost his own
life in that place whilst engaged in the rescue of others.
The rebuilding was entrusted to Mr Edward Westray, whom Lord Blandamer,
by codicil dictated only a few hours before his death, had left
co-trustee with Lady Blandamer, and guardian of the infant heir.