AN ADMIRAL. 175 



me, and got up. We had not pro- 

 ceeded far before I was convinced, from 

 some observations that fell in connec- 

 tion with the place of his destination, 

 that I was not wrong in my conjec- 

 ture. 



My companion soon became affable and 

 chatty, asking me many questions as 

 to the names of the mansions we passed 

 and their owners, the quality of the 

 land, &c. In answer to one of these, I 

 purposely substituted Admiral for Sir. At 

 this he looked at me with astonish- 

 ment, and sharply demanded how I 

 knew he was an Admiral. I coolly 

 replied that in my early life I had 

 belonged to the same noble profession 

 as himself; and though I had not had 

 the honour of sailing with him, it was 

 impossible for any one who knew any- 

 thing of the service not to have known, 

 or ever to have forgotten, so distin- 

 guished a member of it as Sir Eliab 



