“Imusttakeleavetoobserve,SirWalter,”saidMrShepherdonemorningatKellynchHall,ashelaiddownthenewspaper,“thatthepresentjunctureismuchinourfavour.Thispeacewillbeturningallourrichnavalofficersashore.Theywillbeallwantingahome.Couldnotbeabettertime,SirWalter,forhavingachoiceoftenants,veryresponsibletenants.Manyanoblefortunehasbeenmadeduringthewar.Ifarichadmiralweretocomeinourway,SirWalter—”
“Hewouldbeaveryluckyman,Shepherd,”repliedSirWalter“that’sallIhavetoremark.AprizeindeedwouldKellynchHallbetohimratherthegreatestprizeofall,lethimhavetakeneversomanybeforehey,Shepherd?”
MrShepherdlaughed,asheknewhemust,atthiswit,andthenadded—
“Ipresumetoobserve,SirWalter,that,inthewayofbusiness,gentlemenofthenavyarewelltodealwith.IhavehadalittleknowledgeoftheirmethodsofdoingbusinessandIamfreetoconfessthattheyhaveveryliberalnotions,andareaslikelytomakedesirabletenantsasanysetofpeopleoneshouldmeetwith.Therefore,SirWalter,whatIwouldtakeleavetosuggestis,thatifinconsequenceofanyrumoursgettingabroadofyourintentionwhichmustbecontemplatedasapossiblething,becauseweknowhowdifficultitistokeeptheactionsanddesignsofonepartoftheworldfromthenoticeandcuriosityoftheotherconsequencehasitstaxI,JohnShepherd,mightconcealanyfamily-mattersthatIchose,fornobodywouldthinkitworththeirwhiletoobservemebutSirWalterElliothaseyesuponhimwhichitmaybeverydifficulttoeludeandtherefore,thusmuchIventureupon,thatitwillnotgreatlysurprisemeif,withallourcaution,somerumourofthetruthshouldgetabroadinthesuppositionofwhich,asIwasgoingtoobserve,sinceapplicationswillunquestionablyfollow,Ishouldthinkanyfromourwealthynavalcommandersparticularlyworthattendingtoandbegleavetoadd,thattwohourswillbringmeoveratanytime,tosaveyouthetroubleofreplying.”
SirWalteronlynodded.Butsoonafterwards,risingandpacingtheroom,heobservedsarcastically—
“Therearefewamongthegentlemenofthenavy,Ii