Old Lord Londonderry hearing that he was not to be allowed to escape my eagle eye, sent me an invitation to visit him at Plas Machynlleth, he promised that I should have every opportunity of making a caricature, and at the same time he begged that I would not let him off in any way. So in due course I went down to Wales, and well do I remember the first morning of my visit. I came down a trifle earlier than the hour announced for breakfast, and walked absent-mindedly down the stairs and into the hall, and had said, "Good morning" before I realized that I had stepped into the midst of family prayers. I felt an awful fool. However, in spite of the episode I spent quite a long and most enjoyable time at Plas Machynlleth. Lord Londonderry was a most delightful host, he showed me his estate and took me to every place of interest near, and both he and Lady Londonderry were so kind that the pleasant time I spent there remains in my memory. While there I made a drawing of Lady Eileen Vane Tempest, now Lady Allandale, which was much appreciated by her mother. As Lord Londonderry had expressed a wish that I should not spare him in any detail I drew him taking snuff as was his habit, and even his gouty knuckles are suggested in the caricature. His lack of self-consciousness and refreshing sense of humour completed a personality that was for me at any rate delightful. [Illustration: THE FOURTH PARTY. LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL. MR ARTHUR BALFOUR. SIR DRUMMOND WOLFE. SIR JOHN GORST.] CHAPTER XII VOYAGE ON H.M.S. HERCULES Sir Reginald Macdonald's caricature.--H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh's invitation.--The _Lively_.--The _Hercules_.-- Admiral Sir William Hewitt.--Irish excursions.--The Channel Squadron.--Fishing party at Loch Brine.--The young Princes arrive on the _Bacchante_.--Cruise to Vigo.--The "Night Alarm."--The Duke as _bon voyageur_.--Vigo.--The birthday picnic.--A bear-fight on board the _Hercules_.--Homeward bound.--Good-bye.--The Duke's visit to my studio. In July, 1880, I received an invitation from H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to go for a cruise as his guest on board H.M.S. _Hercules_, which he commanded, and which was the flag-ship of the Reserve Squadron. It was not an opportunity to lose, although one which had arrived by chance. It happened that Admiral Sir Reginald Macdonald, a great favourite at court and in society generally, was a victim of mine in _Vanity Fair_. I had known him previously, and always found him most cheerful and entertaining, but on the publication of the cartoon his merriment frizzled away, and he became severe. A letter arrived from him upbraiding me, and saying it was not the act of a friend to depict him as a drunkard. In short it was quite a furious epistle, and revealed him in an altogether new light.