The next morning I called at Lord de Versely's and sent up my card. I
was immediately ushered up, and found myself in his presence. Lord de
Versely rose from his sofa, and took my hand. "Keene, I am very glad to
see you. I am proud that an _eleve_ of mine should have done me so much
credit. You have gained all your rank in the service by your own merit
and exertions."
"Not quite all, my lord," replied I.
"Yes, all; for you are certain of your next step--they cannot well
refuse it to you."
"They will not refuse your lordship, I have no doubt," replied I.
"Sit down, Keene. We will have a little conversation, and then we will
go to the Admiralty."
His lordship then asked me many questions relative to what had passed;
and I entered into more detail than I had done in my letters. After an
hour's conversation, carried on by him in so friendly--I may almost say
affectionate--a style as to make my heart bound with delight, the
carriage was announced, and accompanied his lordship down to the
Admiralty. His lordship sent up his card, and was requested immediately
to go upstairs. He desired me to follow him; and as soon as we were in
the presence of the first lord, and he and Lord de Versely had shaken
hands, Lord de Versely said, "Allow me to introduce to you Captain
Keene, whose name, at least, you have often heard of lately. I have
brought him with me because he is a follower of mine: he entered the
service under my protection, and continued with me until his conduct
gave him his promotion. I have taken this opportunity of introducing
him, to assure your lordship that, during the whole time that he served
with me as midshipman, his gallantry was quite as conspicuous as it has
been since."
The first lord took me by the hand, and complimented me on my conduct.
"Captain Keene has strong claims, my lord. What can we do now for him?"
"I trust you will acknowledge that Captain Keene has earned his post
rank, my lord," replied Lord de Versely; "and I shall take it as a
particular favour to myself if your lordship would appoint him to a
frigate, and give him an opportunity of doing credit to your lordship's
patronage."
"I think I may promise you both," replied the first lord; "but when we
meet in the house to-night, I will let you know what I can do."
After a few minutes' conversation, Lord de Versely rose, and we left the
room. As soon as we were in the carriage his lordship said, "Keene, you
may depend upon it I shall have good news to tell you to-morrow; so call
upon me about two o'clock. I dine out to-day with the premier; but
to-morrow you must dine with me."
I took leave of his lordship as soon as the carriage stopped; and as I
wished to appoint an agent, which I had not yet done, I had begged his
lordship to recommend me one. He gave me the address of his own, and I
went there accordingly. Having made the necessary arrangements, I then
employed the remainder of the day in fitting myself out in a somewhat
more fashionable style than Portsmouth tailors were equal to.
The next morning I sat down to write to my mother; but somehow or
another I could not make up my mind to address her. I had thought of
it, over and over, and had made up my mind that in future I would always
correspond with my grandmother; and I now determined to write to her,
explaining that such was my intention in future, and requesting that all
answers should be also from my grandmother. I commenced my letter,
however, with informing her that I had, since I had last written,
obtained leave of absence, and was now in London. I stated the kindness
shown me in every way by Lord de Versely, and how grateful I was to him.
This continued down to the bottom of the first page, and then I said
"What would I not give to bear the name of one I so much love and
respect! Oh, that I was a Delmar!" I was just about to turn over the
leaf and continue, when the waiter tapped at the door, and informed me
that the tailor was come to try on the clothes which I had ordered. I
went into the bed-room, which opened into the sitting-room, and was busy
with the foreman, who turned me round and round, marking alterations
with a piece of chalk, when the waiter tapped at the bed-room door, and
said Lord de Versely was in the sitting-room. I took off the coat which
was fitting as fast as I could, that I might not keep his lordship
waiting, and put on my own.
Desiring the man to wait my return, I opened the door, and found his
lordship on the sofa, and then for the first time, when I again saw it,
recollected that I had left the letter on the table. The very sight of
it took away my breath. I coloured up as I approached his lordship. I
had quite forgotten that I had addressed my grandmother. I stammered
out, "This is an honour, my lord."
"I came to wish you joy of your promotion and appointment to a fine
frigate, Keene," said Lord de Versely. "I have just received this from
the Admiralty; and as I have business unexpectedly come to hand, I
thought I would be the bearer myself of the good news. I leave you the
letter, and shall of course see you to dinner."
"Many thanks, my lord," replied I. "I am, indeed, grateful."
"I believe you are, Keene," replied his lordship. "By the bye, you
leave your letters so exposed, that one cannot help seem them. I see
you are writing to your grandmother. I hope the old lady is well?"
My grandmother! Oh, what a relief to my mind it was when I then
recollected that it was to my grandmother that I had written! I replied
that she was very well when I last heard from her.
"If I can be of any use in arranging your money affairs, Keene, let me
know."
"I thank you, my lord; but I found that my agent perfectly understands
business," replied I. "I will not trouble your lordship, who has so
many important affairs to attend to."
"Very good," replied he. "Then now I'll leave you to read what I have
given you; and I shall expect you at eight. Goodbye." His lordship
again shook me warmly by the hand, and left me.
I was quite giddy with the reaction produced upon my feelings. When his
lordship left the room I dropped down on the sofa. I forgot the letter
in my hand and its contents, and the tailor in the next room. All I
thought of was the danger I had escaped, and how fortunate I was in not
having addressed the letter to my mother, as I had at first intended.
The agony which I felt was very great, and, as I remained with my hands
covering my eyes, I made a vow that nothing should induce me ever to use
deceit again. I then read over the letter. There was nothing but
gratitude to Lord de Versely, and a wish that I had been born a Delmar.
Well, if his lordship had run his eyes over it, there was nothing to
hurt me in his opinion; on the contrary, it proved that I was grateful;
and I then recollected that when I expressed my gratitude, he said he
believed it. As for my saying that I wished my name was Delmar, it was
nothing, and it let him know what my wishes were. On the whole, I had
great cause for congratulation.
I was here interrupted by the tailor who put his head out of the
bed-room door. I went to him, and he finished his work, and promised me
that I should have a complete suit at half-past seven o'clock in the
evening, in time for dinner. I then returned to the sitting-room, and
opened the letter which Lord de Versely had put into my hands. It was
from the first lord, acquainting him that I might call at the Admiralty
the next day, as my post-captain's commission was signed, and I was
appointed to a thirty-two gun frigate which would be launched in two or
three months. Well, then, thought I, here I am, at twenty-three, a
post-captain in his Majesty's service, and commanding a frigate.
Surely, I have much to be thankful for. I felt that I had, and I was
grateful to Heaven for my good fortune. Now I had but one more wish in
the world, and that was, instead of being Captain Keene, to be Captain
Delmar.
The reader may say, "What's in a name?" True; but such was my ambition,
my darling wish, and it is ardent longing for anything, the ardour of
pursuit, which increases the value of the object so much above its real
value. The politician, who has been manoeuvring all his life does not
perhaps feel more pleasure in grasping the coronet which he has been in
pursuit of, than the urchin does when he first possesses himself of a
nest which he has been watching for weeks. This would, indeed, be a
dreary world if we had not some excitement, some stimulus to lead us on,
which occupies our thoughts, and gives us fresh courage, when
disheartened by the knavery, and meanness, and selfishness of those who
surround us. How sad is the analysis of human nature--what
contradictions, what extremes! how many really brave men have I fallen
in with, stooping to every meanness for patronage, court favour, or
gain; slandering those whose reputation they feared, and even descending
to falsehood to obtain their ends! How many men with splendid talents,
but with little souls!
Up to the present I had run a career of prosperous success; I had risen
to a high position without interfering, or being interfered with by
others; but now I had become of sufficient consequence to be envied; now
I had soon to experience, that as you continue to advance in the world,
so do you continue to increase the number of your enemies, to be exposed
to the shafts of slander, to be foiled by treachery, cunning, and
malevolence. But I must not anticipate.
I remained in London till my leave was expired, and then went down to
Portsmouth to pay off the brig, which had been ordered into dock, to be
refitted for his Majesty's service.