"Ah, though!" said he, raising his voice to call me back, "to return for an instant--there is one thing I must positively require, sir--which you will see, in the circumstances, to be unavoidable. As a mere simple cadet, observe sir, there was nothing to be objected to in a slight passing acquaintance--but, especially in the--in short equivocal--sir, I must request of you that you will on no account attempt to hold any communication with my daughter, Miss Hyde--beyond a mere bow, of course! 'Twill be disagreeable, I assure you. Indeed, I shall--" "Sir," said I, all the blood in my body going to my face, "of all things in the world, _that_ is the very thing where your views and mine happen to square!" and I bowed. The man's coolness disgusted me, sticking such a thing in my teeth, after just reckoning on my services with the very same breath,--and all when it wasn't required, too! And by heaven! thought I, had _she_ shown me favour, all the old nabobs in Christendom, and the whole world to boot, shouldn't hinder me from speaking to her! What I said apparently puzzled him, but he gave me a grand bow in his turn, and I had my hand on the door, when he said, "I suppose, sir, as a naval officer, you have no objection to give me your name and rank? I forget what--" Here I remembered my mistake with the mate, and on the whole I saw I must stick by it till I was clear of the whole concern,--as for _saying_ my name was Westwood, that I couldn't have done at the time for worlds, but I quietly handed him another card; meaning, of course, to give Westwood the cue as shortly as possible, for his own safety. The Judge started on seeing the card, gave me one of his sharp glances, and made a sudden step towards me. "Have you any relation in India, Mr Westwood?" said he, slowly; to which I gave only a nod. "What is he, if I may inquire?" asked he again. "A councillor or something, I believe," said I carelessly. "_Thomas_ Westwood?" said Sir Charles. "Ah," said I, wearied of the thing, and anxious to go. "An uncle, probably, from the age?" he still put in. "Exactly, that's it!" I said. "Why--what!--why did you not mention this at first?" he broke out suddenly, coming close up; "why, Councillor Westwood is my very oldest friend in India, my dear sir! This alters the matter. I should have welcomed a nephew of his in my house, to the utmost! Why, how strange, Mr Westwood, that the fact should emerge in this curious manner!"--and with that he held out his hand. "Of course," said he, "no such restriction as I mentioned could for a moment apply to a nephew of Councillor Westwood!" I stared at him for a moment, and then--"Sir," said I, coolly, "it seems the whole matter goes by names; but if my name were the devil, or the apostle Paul, I don't see how it can make a bit of difference in _me_: what's more, sir," said I, setting my teeth, "what_ever_ my name may be, depend upon it, I shall never claim acquaintance either with