It was with no little trepidation that Hilary entered the room where the
admiral was waiting Captain Charteris' return, and as soon as he saw
that he came with a young companion, the handsome grey-haired old
gentleman came forward and shook hands with Hilary warmly.
"I'm glad to see you," he said. "If you have passed Captain Charteris's
test I know that we have another officer in the service of whom we may
well feel proud. At the same time, Mr Leigh, I think we ought to beg
your pardon."
Hilary hardly knew whether he was upon his head or his heels that
evening, and it was like a revelation to find how genial and pleasant
the reputed stern and uncompromising port-admiral could be. There was
an excellent dinner, political matters were strictly tabooed, and the
two officers talked a good deal aside. No further allusion was made to
the _Kestrel_ till it was time to go on board, a fact of which Hilary
reminded the admiral.
"To be sure, yes. Keep to your time, Mr Leigh. By the way, before you
go will you tell me in a frank gentlemanly spirit what you think of
Lieutenant Lipscombe."
"No, sir, I can't," said Hilary bluntly.
The admiral looked angry on receiving so flat a refusal, but he calmed
down directly.
Then, recollecting himself, Hilary exclaimed, "I beg your pardon, sir; I
hope you will not ask me. I would rather not say."
"Quite right, Mr Leigh; I ought not to have asked you, for you are not
the proper person to speak, but you will tell me this, I suppose," he
added with a smile. "You will not be sorry to hear that Lieutenant
Lipscombe will be appointed to another vessel."
"I am both sorry and glad, sir," replied Hilary, "for he is a brave
officer, even if he is eccentric."
"Eccentric!" said Captain Charteris. "I think he is half mad."
"But you do not ask who will be your new commander!"
"No, sir," said Hilary; "I shall try and do my best whoever he may be."
"Good!" said the admiral; "but I'll tell you all the same--shall I?" he
said laughing.
"Yes, sir, I should be glad to know," replied Hilary.
The old admiral stood looking at him attentively for a few moments, and
then said quietly:
"You."
Hilary half staggered back in his surprise.
"Me? me, sir? Do you mean that I shall be appointed to the command of
the _Kestrel_? I have not passed my examination for lieutenant yet."
"No, but you will, Mr Leigh, and I have no doubt with credit. I have
been having a chat with my friend the captain here. It is a novelty, I
own, but the _Kestrel_ is a very small vessel, and for the present you
will have with you a brother officer of riper years, who, pending his
own appointment to a ship, will, as it were, share your command, and in
cases of emergency give you his advice. Of course all this is to be if
I obtain the sanction of the Admiralty, but I think I may tell you this
will come."
Hilary was so overpowered by this announcement that he could only
stammer a few words, and Captain Charteris took his hand.
"You see, Mr Leigh," he said, "we want a dashing, spirited young
officer of the greatest fidelity, a man who is brave without doubt;
ready-witted, and apt to deal with the smuggling and fishing craft
likely to be the bearers of emissaries from the enemy's camp. We want
such an officer at once for the _Kestrel_, and in the emergency, as we
find those qualities in you, the admiral decides to set the question of
years aside, while, as his spokesman and one to whom he often refers for
counsel--"
"And takes it," said the admiral smiling.
"I cannot help giving my vote in your favour. Mr Leigh," he said,
speaking very sternly now, "in the king's name I ask you from this time
forth to set aside boyish things and to be a man in every sense of the
word, for you are entering upon a great responsibility; and Lieutenant
Anderson, who comes with you, will never interfere, according to his
instructions, unless he sees that you are about to be guilty of a piece
of reckless folly, which in your case is, I am sure, as good as saying
that he will never interfere."
"The fact is, Mr Leigh," said the admiral kindly, "Lieutenant Lipscombe
unwittingly advanced your cause, and it was solely on account of what
has occurred coming to my ears that you were to-night put to so severe a
proof. Now, good-night. You will receive your despatches to-morrow
morning, and lieutenant Anderson will come on board. Then make the best
of your way to Dunkerque, and I need hardly say that I shall be glad to
see you whenever you are in port on business or for pleasure."
"And I as well, Leigh," said Captain Charteris. "Some day let's hope
that I shall be an admiral, and when I am I shall wish for no better
luck than to have Captain Leigh in command of my flagship. But that
will be some time ahead. Now, good-night."
Hilary said good-night and made his way out into the fresh night-air,
wondering if it was all true, and whether he was not suffering from some
attack of nightmare; but the streets and the docks all looked very real,
and when he reached the cutter and was saluted by the watch he began to
think that there was no doubt about it, and he began, as he lay awake,
to consider whether he ought not at once to take possession of the
lieutenant's cabin.