"But whom to send is the difficulty," said Mr. Trevannion. "Captain
Paul, of the Chester Lass, is very ill, and not likely to be out of
bed for some time; and even if he were well, I have no opinion of him
in an affair of this moment. If, as Captain Irving says, he can fill
the Amy, her cargo will be worth three times that of the Chester Lass;
but, of course, the destination of the Sparrow-Hawk must be a secret,
and I do not know whom to intrust her to. We require some one in whom
we can put confidence."
"I agree with you, Sir," replied I; "and, if you have no objection, I
think that the best plan will be for me to go myself; I shall be back
again in ten weeks at the furthest."
"Well, as you will now have a strong interest in it, I really think so
too. In fact, I don't know whom else we can trust."
"I agree with you, Sir, and I will go myself, and I think the sooner
the better; but I do not know whether we can obtain all the goods
requisite immediately."
"We can have them in five or six days," replied Mr. Trevannion; "I
sent Humphrey out to make inquiry."
"At all events, I must look to them myself; and there are many other
things to manage, so I had better wish you a good morning now, Mr.
Trevannion, and in the evening I will call again, and let you know
what I have done."
"Do so," said he, and I then took my leave.
I certainly was very much astonished as well as much pleased at Mr.
Trevannion's liberality relative to the partnership, and I could now
look forward to competency in a few years at the furthest. Certainly,
if Mr. Trevannion had been hasty in his conduct towards me, he had
made most noble reparation. I first returned to the lodgings and told
Captain Levee and Philip what had passed; they immediately proposed
that we should all go together on board the Sparrow-Hawk, that I might
make my arrangements, and that they might persuade some of the men to
join the Arrow. I first picked out the men I wished to sail with me;
and then they talked over the rest, who that evening went on shore for
their wages, and the next morning joined the Arrow, as Captain Levee
was anxious to get round to the Nore. The day after the men joined,
the Arrow sailed, which I was not sorry for, as it left me more at
leisure to expedite my own affairs. Philip promised to be my
correspondent, and I bade them both farewell with regret. I called in
the evening, as I had promised, upon Mr. Trevannion, and he then gave
me the deed of partnership, signed and dated the day when he first
made the offer, and we had quarrelled; but I did not see Miss
Trevannion; much to my regret, her father said that she was ailing.
The business I had to transact, and fitting out the Sparrow-Hawk, so
completely occupied me, that it was now three days that I had been at
Liverpool without having seen her, and I was much annoyed at it, as I
had called every day. My feelings towards her were now stronger than
before. She was never out of my thoughts, and I hardly know how it was
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