"Listen to the varlet now," said Pike, in French; "the fellow's as cool with us as if we were exactly his equals, and no more. I 'll tell you what it is, lads," added he, seriously, "when such rogues journey the road of life singly, they raise _themselves_ to station and eminence; but when they herd together in masses, these are the fellows who pull _others_ down, and effect the most disastrous social revolutions.--So you 'll not be a soldier Con?" added he, resuming the vernacular; "well, what are your ideas as to the civil service?"
"Quite right, lad,--well said; a fair start is all you ask?"
"Why, sir, I carry no weight, either in the shape of goods or character; and if a light equipment gives speed, I 've a chance to be placed well."
The captain gave a side-glance at the others as though to say, "Was I correct in my opinion of this fellow?" and then went on: "I have a thought in my head for you, Con: there is a lady of my acquaintance at Quebec wants a servant; now, if you could pick up some notion of the duties, I 've no doubt you'd learn the remainder rapidly."
"I used to wait on Sir Dudley, sir, and am therefore not entirely ignorant."
"Very true; and as these gentlemen and myself will put you into training while the voyage lasts, I hope you 'll do us credit in the end."
"Much will depend on my mistress, sir," said I, determining to profit by what I had overheard, but yet not use the knowledge rashly or unadvisedly. "Should she not be very exacting and very particular, but have a little patience with me, accepting zeal for skill, I 've no doubt, sir, I 'll not discredit your recommendation."
"That's the very point I'm coming to, Con," said the captain, lowering his voice to a most confidential tone.
"The true state of the case is this: "--and here he entered upon an explanation which I need not trouble the reader by recapitulating, since it merely went the length I have already related, save that he added, in conclusion, this important piece of information:--
"Your golden rule, in every difficulty, will then be, to assure Mrs. Davis that you always did so, whatever it may be, when you were living with Lord George, or Sir Charles, or the Bishop of Drone. You understand me, eh?"