"Sir Thomas has been giving me a very full and detailed description of everything that has happened since you joined the _Indian Queen_, Mr Grenvile, and the recital has afforded me a great deal of pleasure.  You appear to have handled an extremely difficult situation with equal courage and discretion, and I may as well say at once that, so far as that part of your adventure is concerned, I am quite satisfied.  Sir Thomas has also had something to say about that part of your adventure which relates to the loss of the _Dolores_"--and here I thought I detected a twinkle of amusement in the skipper's eye, brought there possibly by a repetition of the General's frank criticism of my commanding officer's conduct in turning us all adrift in an unarmed vessel--"from which I gather that you were in no way to blame for that unfortunate occurrence."