We had a ministry of all the talents once — now it's a ministry of no talent.
I can't imagine why Castlereagh and Canning fought that duel.
It nearly wrecked us.
So did Gambier's affair at the Basque Roads.
Cochrane's been making a thorough nuisance of himself in the House ever since.
Has it ever occurred to you that you might enter parliament?
Well, it will be time enough to discuss that when you've been to Downing Street.
It's sufficient at present that you've given the mob something to cheer about."
Mr Frere seemed to take much for granted — for instance, that Hornblower was wholeheartedly on the government side, and that Hornblower had fought at Rosas Bay and had escaped from France solely to maintain a dozen politicians in office.
It rather damped Hornblower's spirits.
He sat silent, listening to the rattle of the wheels.
"H.R.H. is none too helpful," said Frere.
"He didn't turn us out when he assumed the Regency, but he bears us no love — the Regency Bill didn't please him.
Remember that, when you see him to-morrow.
He likes a bit of flattery, too.
If you can make him believe that you owe your success to the inspiring examples both of H.R.H. and of Mr Spencer Perceval you will be taking the right line.
What's this?
Horndean?"
The postillion drew the horses to a halt outside the inn, and ostlers came running with a fresh pair.
"Sixty miles from London," commented Mr Frere.
"We've just time."
The inn servants had been eagerly questioning the postillion, and a knot of loungers — smocked agricultural workers and a travelling tinker — joined them, looking eagerly at Hornblower in his blue and gold.
Someone else came hastening out of the inn; his red face and silk cravat and leather leggings seemed to indicate him as the local squire.
"Acquitted, sir?" he asked.
"Naturally, sir," replied Frere at once.
"Most honourably acquitted."
"Hooray for Hornblower!" yelled the tinker, throwing his hat into the air.
The squire waved his arms and stamped with joy, and the farm hands echoed the cheer.
"Down with Boney!" said Frere.
"Drive on."
"It is surprising how much interest has been aroused in your case," said Frere a minute later. "Although naturally one would expect it to be greatest along the Portsmouth Road."
"Yes," said Hornblower.
"I can remember," said Frere, "when the mob were howling for Wellington to be hanged, drawn, and quartered — that was after the news of Cintra.
I thought we were gone then.
It was his court of inquiry which saved us as it happened, just as yours is going to do now.
Do you remember Cintra?"
"I was commanding a frigate in the Pacific at the time," said Hornblower, curtly.
He was vaguely irritated — and he was surprised at himself at finding that he neither liked being cheered by tinkers nor flattered by politicians.
"All the same," said Frere, "it's just as well that Leighton was hit at Rosas.
Not that I wished him harm, but it drew the teeth of that gang.
It would have been them or us otherwise, I fancy.
His friends counted twenty votes on a division.
You know his widow, I've heard?"
"I have that honour."
"A charming woman for those who are partial to that type.
And most influential as a link between the Wellesley party and her late husband's."
"Yes," said Hornblower.
All the pleasure was evaporating from his success.
The radiant afternoon sunshine seemed to have lost its brightness.
"Petersfield is just over the hill," said Frere.