Part 2 (2/2)
”Couldn't you take me to Squire Knowsley, and talk the matter over with hie sum for you to allow me, and perhaps he h I may not have the usual allowance I promise to be very economical, and I would be ready to inald came back yesterday, I find,” said ratify your wishes, and as I do not see any objection to your proposal, ill set off at once to call on him; perhaps he will do as you desire If he does not, it will show hio to sea, and he rateful toto o in your present untidy condition,”
he reo and put on your best clothes, and by that time I shall be ready to set off”
I hurried to ed myself out in the best I possessed I also, as may be supposed, put on dry socks and shoes It did not occur toI threw off was likely to betrayI went down stairs and set off with h the weather was rather hot, and in the course of about an hour arrived at Leighton Park
Sir Reginald, as at home, desired that we should at once be admitted to his study, or rather justice-rooe oak roos' horns, foxes' brushes, and other trophies of the chase, with a couple of figures in ar candelabra in their hands On the walls were hung also bows and arrows, halberds, swords, and pikes, as well as modern weapons, and they were likewise adorned with several hunting pictures, and sorim portraits of the Squire's ancestors On one side was a bookcase, on the shelves of which were a few standard legal works, with others on sporting subjects, veterinary, falconry, horses and dogs, and other branches of natural history
Sir Reginald hirizzled hair and a ruddy countenance, was seated at a writing-table covered with a green cloth, on which was a Bible and two or three other books, and writing materials He rose as we entered, and received us very courteously, begging my father and me to take seats near him on the inner side of the table
”You will excuse ht in, Ito interfere with o away I'll dispose of them off-hand, and shall be happy to continue the conversation I want to have a feords with you, Mr Cheveley, upon a matter of importance, to obtain your advice and assistance By-the-bye, you wrote to o about a son of yours ishes to enter the naval service This is, I presu at me, ”Eh! My lad? And so you wish to becoinald, but don't knohether I shall ever become an admiral; my ambition is at present to be made a midshi+pman,” I answered boldly
”I ah it is not so easy athe war time I spoke to my friend Grummit, who has just coness to take you I think I wrote to you, Mr Cheveley, on the subject”
”That is the very inald,” said my father ”You mentioned that Captain Gru an allowance froh that does not appear to hie sum, it is beyond the means of a poor incumbent to furnish, and I am anxious to knohether Captain Grummit will condescend to take him with a smaller allowance”
”I am sorry to say he told me that he made it a rule to receive no midshi+pman who had not at least that amount of private property to keep up the respectability of his position,” answered Sir Reginald, ”and from what I know of him, I should think he is not a man likely to depart from any rule he may think fit to make However, my dear Mr Cheveley, I will communicate with him, and let you knohat he replies If he still insists on your son having 50 pounds a year, we must see what else can be done Excuse me for a few minutes, here come some people on business”
Several persons who had entered the hall, approached the table One of theentleman in black, with a bundle of papers in his hand, took a seat at one end, and began busily spreading them out before hiht up a prisoner, as dressed as a seafaring inald, scrutinising the prisoner
”Please, your honour, Sir Reginald, we took this oods, landed, as we have reason to believe, froreave's boat the 'Saucy Bess,' which had been seen off the coast during the day between Milton Cove and Rock Head”
”Ah, I'ot one of the which is carried on under our noses to the great detriment of the revenue What beca the cargo?”
”Please, your worshi+p, the cargo was sprighted away before we could get hold of a single keg or bale, and all the fellows except this one made their escape The 'Preventive' one off in a different direction, so that ere left to do as best we could, and we only captured this one prisoner with a keg on his shoulders,with the keg as evidence against him”
”Half a loaf is better than no bread, and I hope by the punish to abandon so low a pursuit What is your name, prisoner?”
”Jack Cope, your worshi+p,” answered the sler, who looked wonderfully unconcerned, and spoke without the slightest hesitation or fear
”Well, Mr Jack Cope, what have you to say for yourself to induce aol?” asked the istrate
”Please, your worshi+p, I don't deny that I was captured as the constables describe with a cask on my shoulders, for I had been down to the sea to fill it with salt water to bathe one of , and I alking quietly along when these ed in running the cargo of the 'Saucy Bess,' hich I had no more to do than the babe unborn”
”A very likely story, Master Cope You were caught with a keg on your shoulders; it's very evident that you were unlawfully eo of the vessel you spoke of, and I shall forthwith make out the order for your committal to prison”
”Please, your worshi+p, before you do that, I , for if it contains spirits I aht to be set at liberty”