My Lady's feasting on the little fish, which had almost rivalled the Prince Caracciolo's miraculous draught, did not seem to interfere with her appetite at the State dinner, or perhaps I should say supper, which took place at the Queen's Palace in Naples as soon as the guests could conveniently reassemble after repairing the ravages of so hot and wet a day. She ate with her accustomed heartiness, as I was in a position to see, for she had me to sit next to her. Will was there officially as the Admiral's interpreter--an office which later was more often filled by My Lady herself, during the Admiral's long spell ashore in the Two Sicilies. She had said to Her Majesty, in her good-natured way, "Let Tubby and Josiah come; they can't babble away any secrets, for they will not understand one word we say." She had quite forgiven Josiah for his brutal and at that time undeserved assault on her friendship with his step-father, and he was her devoted slave again: indeed, there was nothing small about My Lady,--even her vanity was too great to charge with pettiness. I may say here that Josiah was mighty careful that night; and I do think it was from fear of forgetting himself again, although such a very young officer was not likely to exceed before the company in which he found himself. For Her Majesty had invited all the captains that could be spared both for the expedition to Pompeji and for the banquet; and all around us, mingled with the beauties and most trusted nobles of the Neapolitan Court were such men as Troubridge and Alexander Ball, the pick of Nelson's captains, men whom any other Power would have been glad to welcome as commanders-in-chief at that moment--such was their martial fame for the handling of their ships, and stomach for fighting.