Such a forgetfulness would break my heart!" "Forgive me, nephew--but I wish--alone with these gentle----head--getting--confused--" "You see how it is, Sir Gervaise Oakes--you see how it is, Mr.
Rotherham.

Ah! there goes the coach that is to take Admiral Bluewater to his boat.

My uncle wished for three witnesses to something, and I can remain as one of the three." "Is it your pleasure, Sir Wycherly, to wish to see us alone ?" asked Sir Gervaise, in a manner that showed authority would be exercised to enforce his request, should the uncle still desire the absence of his nephew.
A sign from the sick man indicated the affirmative, and that in a manner too decided to admit of mistake.
"You perceive, Mr.Wychecombe, what are your uncle's wishes," observed Sir Gervaise, very much in the way that a well-bred superior intimates to an inferior the compliance he expects; "I trust his desire will not be disregarded, at a moment like this." "I am Sir Wycherly Wychecombe's next of kin," said Tom, in a slightly bullying tone; "and no one has the same right as a relative, and, I may say, his heir, to be at his bed-side." "That depends on the pleasure of Sir Wycherly Wychecombe himself, sir.
_He_ is master here; and, having done me the honour to invite me under his roof as a guest, and, now, having requested to see me alone, with others he has expressly named--one of whom you are not--I shall conceive it my duty to see his wishes obeyed." This was said in the firm, quiet way, that the habit of command had imparted to Sir Gervaise's manner; and Tom began to see it might be dangerous to resist.

It was important, too, that one of the vice-admiral's character and station should have naught to say against him, in the event of any future controversy; and, making a few professions of respect, and of his desire to please his uncle, Tom quitted the room.
A gleam of satisfaction shot over the sick man's countenance, as his nephew disappeared; and then his eye turned slowly towards the faces of those who remained.
"Bluewater," he said, the thickness of his speech, and the general difficulty of utterance, seeming to increase; "the rear-admiral--I want all--respectable--witnesses in the house." "My friend has left us, I understand," returned Sir Gervaise, "insisting on his habit of never sleeping out of his ship; but Atwood must soon be back; I hope _he_ will answer!" A sign of assent was given; and, then, there was the pause of a minute, or two, ere the secretary made his appearance.

As soon, however, as he had returned, the three collected around the baronet's bed, not without some of the weakness which men are supposed to have inherited from their common mother Eve, in connection with the motive for this singular proceeding of the baronet.
"Sir Gervaise--Rotherham--Mr.Atwood," slowly repeated the patient, his eye passing from the face of one to that of another, as he uttered the name of each; "three witnesses--that will do--Thomas said--must have _three_--three _good_ names." "What can we do to serve you, Sir Wycherly ?" inquired the admiral, with real interest.