I take it for granted, notwithstanding your Stuart fervour, that you are willing enough to help me thresh Monsieur de Vervillin." "Beyond a question.

Nothing but the conviction that he was directly employed in serving my natural and legitimate prince, could induce me to show him any favour.

Still, Oakes, it is possible he may have succours for the Scotch on board, and be bound to the north by the way of the Irish channel!" "Ay, pretty succours, truly, for an Englishman to stomach! _Mousquetaires_, and _regiments de Croy_, or _de Dillon_, or some d----d French name or other; and, perhaps, beautiful muskets from the _Bois de Vincennes_; or some other infernal nest of Gallic inventions to put down the just ascendency of old England! No--no--Dick Bluewater, your excellent, loyal, true-hearted English mother, never bore you to be a dupe of Bourbon perfidy and trick.

I dare say she sickened at the very name of Louis!" "I'll not answer for that, Sir Jarvy," returned the rear-admiral, with a vacant smile; "for she passed some time at the court of _le Grand Monarque_.

But all this is idle; we know each other's opinions, and, by this time, ought to know each other's characters.