"You may depend upon it," replied Ormond, to whom Bullen chiefly addressed himself, "that his name is marked for promotion, as soon as a convenient opportunity offers."
"Convenient!" interrupted Bullen: "it would be devilish convenient to me, I know, to be made just now."
"And in the meantime," continued Ormond, "what can be more gratifying than the approbation of the respectable heads of the department, under which he serves his country?"
"I think," said our hero, whose opinions, like himself, were young, and therefore unsophisticated, "the lords of the admiralty do but justice to the motives of British officers, when they deem approbation the first of rewards! I mean, of course, in a public sense; considering their lordships, in pronouncing that approbation, as the organs, not only of government, but also of the nation, on naval affairs; of which they are constituted the judges."
"Besides," said Ormond, "you forget how many men, in the British navy, have risen to the highest rank, without any interest whatever, entirely in consequence of meritorious conduct."
"That was long ago," replied Bullen sulkily. "But it's very easy for you to talk! You, the son of Admiral Lord Fitz-Ullin; sure of whatever you want, and want nothing neither! Aye, aye, that's the way of the world! I wish you'd make your father get me my commission, I know!"
The other young men looked at each other, and smiled.
"Well," said Ormond, laughing; "do something very brilliant to deserve it; and if the Admiralty give you approbation only, I pledge myself you shall not want interest. Here is my friend, Montgomery," he added, turning to Edmund, "saying not a word; and yet, so just a sense have their lordships of his merits, that he has no use for interest, though he possesses it in the greatest profusion."
"Does he faith?" exclaimed Bullen, "I wish he'd give it to me, then!"
Here all laughed out. And now Lord Ormond was summoned. He went; and, in due time, returned with rather a conscious smile on his countenance.
"Well!" cried Bullen. "Well!" echoed a dozen voices at once. "Well!" repeated Ormond; but proceeded no further.
Edmund began to question his amused-looking friend somewhat anxiously, as to how matters stood; and whether there was really any difficulty, to one who knew what he was about.