He waited for an answer but heard only the sound of sloshing and a moan of contenbnent from the vicar. "I mean to say, how may I retain the good name of Willoughby?" he prompted. "Ah, yes, the poor young lady," the vicar finally said, not without a gleam coming to his watery eyes. ’ Yes?" Sir Hugo prompted, trying not to seem impatient. ’Transport him. Or send him to the country," the vicar decided. ’But the courts involved.. ‘. ’Ah, yes, well…" The vicar shrugged and made free with the decanter on his own. "I shall, of course, disinherit him," Sir Hugo announced. "I'll not have him spend another moment under this roof as one of mine. Then it shall be up to him to succeed or fail under his own name.’

’He is not known by Willoughby?’

‘Lewrie, his mother's maiden name, sir.’

’Let me see… some form of punishment, or banishment, that will not reflect on your own kith and kin, remove him from the scene and make a man of him," the vicar said. "I have it!’

‘Yes?’

‘I know a captain in the Royal Navy, Sir Hugo. With this dreadfullittIe rebellion going on in the American colonies, one more young volunteer for service would not be looked on amiss." The vicar fairly beamed. ’And ship him out as a seaman?" Sir Hugo grinned in return. ’Heavens, Sir Hugo, be merciful at the last, I beg you. To be a midshipman is punishment enough, but to be pent with the common rabble, an educated young man raised as a gentleman… besides, there would be unfavorable comment if he stood out from his surroundings too well.’

’I suppose so," Sir Hugo said unhappily. "So I shall have to buy him his kit. And his commission as well, I suppose.’

’Not at all, Sir Hugo," the vicar assured him. "Well, he must have his kit, but a commission in even a poor regiment is four times the cost of a willing captain. I am sure my friend Captain Bevan can find your son a commander desperately in need of hands and midshipmen. Like much else in our times, the zeal of the populace for naval service is akin to the lack of zeal for the true sense of Christ's teachings.’