“If you mean Lord Stormont by ‘the cat,’” answered Conyngham, “I think he is all ready for jumping now.” “I wish,” rejoined the elder Ross, “that we were certain of the French minister’s temper. Dr. Franklin must have had a strong cudgel in his hands to bring him to terms at all. I wonder what it was? You could tell us, Captain Conyngham, if you wished, of that I’m sure.” Conyngham looked at the others intently. He waited for Hodge to speak, thinking that of course the good doctor had told him of the commission that undoubtedly had been the cudgel that had brought the Count de Vergennes to terms. But seeing that Hodge apparently did not wish to refer to it, he also held his peace and changed the subject. “You say that Dr. Franklin’s secretary will be down from Paris to-morrow?” he asked Mr. Hodge. “I suppose with final instructions.” The younger Ross laughed. “I don’t think there will be many instructions that we could not guess,” he said. “It seems to me that the case is clear enough--to capture as many of the enemy’s vessels as possible and not to get caught at it, is an easy thing to remember.” “There will be more than that, my son,” returned Hodge, “much more than that, I hope, for you must remember that I am responsible to the French Government for the proper behavior of the gallant captain so long as he remains on the coast of France.” “And you have no longing for the Bastile, eh?” “Not much, my son. But Mr. Carmichael will tell us to what length we can go in interpreting the cautions of the ministry.” After some more desultory talk the meeting broke up, another parting toast being drunk to the success of the Revenge. Mr. Hodge and Conyngham walked down the street toward the pier where the captain’s gig was waiting, for he was now living openly on board the Revenge and making no secret of his connection with her. “Tell me, my good friend,” asked the captain, “did Dr. Franklin say nothing to you about the contents of that packet that you brought to Paris with you? It would seem rather unusual if he did not.” “Nothing beyond the fact that he was glad to receive it,” was the reply. “What did it contain? You were asked that question before. If you do not care to tell--why, consider it unasked.” “It contained enough to save my life,” was the reply: “my commission--that was all.” “You have not received it back?” “I have not seen or heard of it from that day to this.” Hodge gave vent to a prolonged whistle. “This is a serious matter,” he said. “But perhaps Carmichael will fetch it down with him.” “I hope and trust so,” was the reply. “Sure, I don’t care any more for the yard-arm than you do for the Bastile.”