"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. "Why, to tell you the truth," said Ormond, laughing out at last, "the only question they asked me, was--But I'll not tell you--guess!--all guess!--I give you fifty guesses!" Every puzzler which had been conned by any of the party, was now proposed and rejected, in turn; at first, with much of loud merriment; subsiding, finally, however, into grave wonder; for unguessed riddles are apt to grow dull. "I am sure I can guess no more," said Edmund at last. "Tell!" cried one. "Tell!" cried another. "Can't you tell!" vociferated Bullen. "Well," said Ormond, "do you all give it up?" "Yes!" "Yes!" "We all give it up!" "We all give it up!" answered many voices eagerly. And the circle drew itself closer round him. "Well, then," proceeded Ormond, "they asked me how"--and here he hesitated and laughed again. "How what?" cried Bullen. "How what?" "How what?" "How what?" cried all. "How my father was!!!" concluded his lordship, trying to look grave. "No!" exclaimed every voice at once. "I told you how it would be with you," cried Bullen. "But you are not serious?" demanded Edmund. "But I am, faith!" answered his friend. "And they asked you nothing else?" pursued Edmund. "No," said Ormond--"but, yes, they did, by the bye; they asked me to take a glass of wine, and a bit of cake." "And you passed?" demanded Bullen. "I did," replied Ormond. "And are to have your commission, I suppose?" His lordship answered in the affirmative.