Lord.”

“Then say the prisoner.”

“When the prisoner came on board, he noticed that my father,”

turning her eyes lovingly to him as he stood beside her, “was

much fatigued and in a very weak state of health. My father was so

reduced that I was afraid to take him out of the air, and I had

made a bed for him on the deck near the cabin steps, and I sat on

the deck at his side to take care of him. There were no other

passengers that night, but we four. The prisoner was so good as to

beg permission to advise me how I could shelter my father from

the wind and weather, better than I had done. I had not known

how to do it well, not understanding how the wind would set when

we were out of the harbour. He did it for me. He expressed great

gentleness and kindness for my father’s state, and I am sure he felt

it. That was the manner of our beginning to speak together.”

“Let me interrupt you for a moment. Had he come on board

alone?”

“No.”

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“How many were with him?”

“Two French gentlemen.”

“Had they conferred together?”