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On, the 4th, Lieutenant Pickersgill sailed with the cutter, on a trading party, toward the south end of the isle. Another trading party was also sent on shore near the ships, which party Captain Cook attended himself, to see that the business was properly conducted at the first setting out, this being a point of no small importance.
'Steward, you will take these clothes below, said Pickersgill, 'and, observe, that I now command this yacht; and during the time that I am on board you will pay me the same respect as you did Lord B.; nay, more, you will always address me as Lord B. You will prepare dinner and breakfast, and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, and take care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies to be entertained in a less sumptuous manner than before.
On the whole, he felt grateful to Pickersgill, and where there is gratitude there is always good will. "But who can he be?" said Mrs Lascelles; "his name he acknowledges not to be Pickersgill, and he told me confidentially that he was of good family." "Confidentially, my dear Mrs Lascelles!" said Lord B . "Oh, yes! We are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?"
Mr Stewart was dumbfounded, no wonder, to find the ladies siding with the smuggler. "I am obliged to you ladies for your interference," said Pickersgill; "for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should be sorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply." Lord B. was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he bowed with hauteur.
As soon as the sails were furled, one or two gentlemen, who resided there, came on board to pay their respects to Lord B ; and, as Pickersgill had found out from Cecilia that her father was acquainted with no one there, he received them in person; asked them down in the cabin called for wine and desired them to send their boats away, as his own was going on shore.
In the evening of the 11th, the boats returned, when I was informed of the following circumstances. From an elevation which they reached the morning they set out, they had a view of the coast. Mr Gilbert was of opinion that they saw the termination of it to the west, but Mr Pickersgill thought not; though both agreed that there was no passage for the ship that way.
The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B. received a letter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of his vessel had been captured, and would be condemned, in consequence of their having the gentlemen on board, who were bound to appear against them, to prove that they had sunk the brandy. Lord B. paid all the recognisances, and the men were liberated for want of evidence.
It was impossible for Cecilia Ossulton to help smiling. "And," continued Pickersgill, "having taking the command of this yacht, instead of his lordship, it is absolutely necessary that I also take his lordship's name. While on board I am Lord B.; and allow me to introduce myself under that name I cannot be addressed otherwise.
And this puts me in mind of another of her wicked sayings about Dr Skinner. She told me one day that he had the harmlessness of the serpent and the wisdom of the dove. But to return to Dr Skinner's library; over the chimney-piece there was a Bishop's half length portrait of Dr Skinner himself, painted by the elder Pickersgill, whose merit Dr Skinner had been among the first to discern and foster.
"And be relieved of my company," replied Pickersgill, smiling ironically, "of course you are; but I must and will have my pretty revenge: and although you may, and probably will, detest me, at all events you shall not have any very formidable charge to make against me.
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