sir?" said the waiter.

"First-lieutenants don't send up their names to midshipmen," replied Mr
Sawbridge; "he shall soon know who I am."

At this reply the waiter walked upstairs, followed by Mr Sawbridge, and
threw open the door.

"A gentleman wishes to see you, sir," said the waiter.

"Desire him to walk in," said Jack: "and, waiter, mind that the punch is
a little better than it was yesterday; I have asked two more gentlemen
to dine here."

In the meantime Mr Sawbridge, who was not in his uniform, had entered,
and perceived Jack alone, with the dinner-table laid out in the best
style for eight, a considerable show of plate for even the Fountain Inn,
and everything, as well as the apartment itself, according to Mr
Sawbridge's opinion, much more fit for a commander-in-chief than a
midshipman of a sloop of war.

Now Mr Sawbridge was a good officer, one who had really worked his way
up to the present rank, that is to say, that he had served
seven-and-twenty years, and had nothing but his pay. He was a little
soured in the service, and certainly had an aversion to the young men of
family who were now fast crowding into it--and with some grounds, as he
perceived his own chance of promotion decrease in the same ratio as the
numbers increased. He considered that in proportion as midshipmen
assumed a cleaner and more gentlemanly appearance, so did they become
more useless, and it may therefore be easily imagined that his bile was
raised by this parade and display in a lad, who was very shortly to be,
and ought three weeks before to have been, shrinking from his frown.
Nevertheless, Sawbridge was a good-hearted man, although a little
envious of luxury, which he could not pretend to indulge in himself.

"May I beg to ask," said Jack, who was always remarkably polite and
gentlemanly in his address, "in what manner I may be of service to you?"

"Yes, sir, you may--by joining your ship immediately. And may I beg to
ask in return, sir, what is the reason you have stayed on shore three
weeks without joining her?"

Hereupon Jack, who did not much admire the peremptory tone of Mr
Sawbridge, and who during the answer had taken a seat, crossed his legs
and played with the gold chain to which his watch was secured, after a
pause very coolly replied:

"And pray, who are you?"

"Who am I, sir?" replied Sawbridge, jumping out of his chair--"my name
is Sawbridge, sir, and I am the first-lieutenant of the _Harpy_. Now,
sir