“But he has stood by me in all this business; and I can’t desert him,” answered Gregory. “It would be mean for me to do that.” “But Lord Fillgrove must go in the boat with you, and come back with the boatman. It won’t look regular if he don’t,” protested Sir Philip. “I don’t see any way to get Clinch out of the steamer, unless we get him into the boat in some manner before you and Fillgrove get in. You can manage that better than I can; for you know the rules of your bloody ships, and I do not.” “Shakings overlooks every boat that comes to the steamer, or leaves it. We couldn’t get Clinch into the boat any more than we could get the engine into it,” replied Gregory. “Then you must leave him on board, unless you are willing to give up the journeys we have planned.” “I am not willing to give them up, or to give up Clinch.” “I’ll tell you what we can do. Tell Clinch I have a scheme by which I shall get him out of the ship after you and Fillgrove have gone,” suggested the Briton. “What is the scheme?” demanded Gregory. “I haven’t it ready yet; but I will think of it.” “Then it’s only to get rid of him; and I will not consent to that,” protested Gregory. But, if he had been entirely candid, he would have admitted that he did not care so much for Clinch’s company as he had before, now that he had better associates,--a baronet and a viscount. “I don’t mean to get rid of your friend, though I don’t care for him. There are a dozen means of getting him out of the ship; and I shall fix upon one before we reach the harbor,” replied Sir Philip. “I see it now! When you get on shore, you can get some young fellow, dressed in poor clothes, to come on board with Fillgrove; and Clinch shall change his uniform for that of the stranger, and go on shore in his place. That will work like a charm!” The Briton was entirely satisfied with the scheme; and Gregory was rather pleased with it, though he was not so sanguine of its success as his cousin. He had a talk with Clinch on the subject; and that worthy was willing to assent to any thing that promised to release him from his captivity, and save him from the degradation of being sent into the steerage of the Josephine. It was about noon when the Ville d’Angers dropped her anchor off the Loo Rock. The health officers promptly presented themselves; and all hands were obliged to show themselves on the rail of the vessel, to assure the official that the persons named in the papers were well and hearty. As soon as this formality had been complied with, the captain ordered out his boat to go on shore; for all the surprise and consternation at not finding the academy squadron in the harbor had been expressed before the steamer anchored.