"What's the matter?" asked Tommy, guessing he might have been saying
something he had better not have said.
"Only that Captain Rullock and his sister and niece are great friends of
ours, and that they will be highly flattered at the high estimation in
which they are held by your mess," I answered.
Mite, who had plenty of tact, very adroitly replied, "Well, gentlemen, I
hope that you will come to the ball, and meet your friends."
His invitation was backed by Lieutenant Piper, who soon afterwards came
on board, and it was arranged that we should call alongside the
"Trident" for them just before sunset.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note. Let no one suppose that this incident is intended to reflect on
any particular governor of Malta. It is, unhappily, only too
characteristic of many of our governors, ambassadors, and consuls, and
other authorities in various parts of the world, both at home and
abroad. Certainly, old Tom, well-known to fame, would not have so
acted.