At last, under the double influence of his real liking for David and of the Englishman-thawing Portuguese decoction, he gave his favorite a singular proof of friendship.  It came about as follows.  Observing that he had all the talk to himself, he fixed his eyes with an expression of paternal benevolence on his companion, and was silent in turn.

David looked up, as we all do when a voice ceases, and saw this mild gaze dwelling on him.

“Dodd, my boy, you don’t say a word; what is the matter?”

“I am very bad company, sir, that is the truth.”

“Well, fill your glass, then, and I’ll talk for you.  I have got something to say for you, young gentleman.”  David filled his glass and forced himself to attend; after a while no effort was needed.

“Dodd,” resumed the mature merchant, “I need hardly tell you that I have a particular regard for you; the reason is, you are a young man of uncommon merit.”

“Mr. Bazalgette! sir!  I don’t know which way to look when you praise me like that.  It is your goodness; you overrate me.”

“No, I don’t.  I am a judge of men.  I have seen thousands, and seen them too close to be taken in by their outside.  You are the only one of my wife’s friends that ever had the run of my study.  What do you think of that, now?”

“I am very proud of it, sir; that is all I can find to say.”

“Well, young man, that same good opinion I have of you induces me to do something else, that I have never done for any of your predecessors.”

Mr. Bazalgette paused.  David’s heart beat.  Quick as lightning it darted through his mind, “He is going to ask a favor for me.  Promotion?  Why not?  He is a merchant.  He has friends in the Company.’”

“I am going to interfere in your concerns, Dodd.”

“You are very good, sir.”

“Well, perhaps I am.  I have to overcome a natural reluctance.  But you are worth the struggle.  I shall therefore go against the usages of the world, which I don’t care a button for, and my own habits, which I care a great deal for, and give you, humph—­a piece of friendly advice.”

David looked blank.

“Dodd, my boy, you are playing the fool in this house.”

David looked blanker.

“It is not your fault; you are led into it by one of those sweet creatures that love to reduce men to the level of their own wisdom.  You are in love, or soon will be.”

David colored all over like a girl, and his face of distress was painful to see.

“You need not look so frightened; I am your friend, not your enemy.  And do you really think others besides me have not seen what is going on?  Now, Dodd, my dear fellow, I am an old man, and you are a young one.  Moreover, I understand the lady, and you don’t.”

“That is true, sir; I feel I cannot fathom her.”

“Poor fellow!  Well, but I have known her longer than you.”