Sir Robert was never insensible to his daughter's praise, but it did not prevent his continuing the subject. He stated that Dalton was a clever, experienced seaman;--that his knowledge of foreign seas and foreign affairs in general might be made most useful to government, if government would avail itself of such advantages;--that the Buccaneer was a bitter thorn in the side of the Protector, as he had been known to convey malcontents to England, as well as to ship them off;--that his Fire-fly might be termed a meteor of the waters, now here, now there, shining like a blazing star--stealing like a moon-beam--in the Texel, in the Thames, in the Baltic, or the Black Sea--as occasion required; everywhere when mischief was doing, nowhere when it was to be remedied:--that all this evil might be avoided by giving Dalton a pardon and the command of a Commonwealth ship; that he would accept, indeed he (Sir Robert) was sure that he desired, such an employment, and that it would be a grievous thing for the state if an arrangement could not be made to purchase his future services and his good conduct at so small a price. Burrell was astonished, but saw clearly enough that there must be some covert motive for such deep and unaccountable anxiety: he dexterously set forth the various arguments that might be urged by government against a man of Dalton's character; the ill example, the dangerous precedent of one so circumstanced taking his place amongst honourable men, and so forth; mooting a variety of points, in order that he might judge of Sir Robert's object by his manner of answering objections.