ogised for appearing in their wet and somewhat torn
clothes.

"We have received the invitation madame has been so kind as to afford
us, and we throw ourselves on her hospitality." He then repeated what
he had told Le Duc to say.

"You shall have your necessities supplied, and I will gladly do all I
can to protect and help you regain your ship," she said. "I was once
with my daughters taken prisoner when on a voyage from France by an
English ship-of-war, and we were treated by the English officers as if
we had been princesses. Ah! they were indeed true gentlemen! They won
our hearts;" and she sighed. "I thought two of them would have become
husbands of my daughters, but stern duty compelled them to sail away
after they had landed us, and we have never heard of them since."

"We will gladly convey any message to them, if you will tell us their
names, and the ships to which they belonged," said Rayner, "should we be
fortunate enough to fall in with them."

"My daughters will tell you by-and-by," answered the old lady. "You, I
see, require to change your dresses, which you can do while supper is
preparing. My maitre d'hotel will look to your men with the help of the
French sailor whom you sent up with your message."

"One of them was hurt on board the wreck, and requires some doctoring, I
fear," said Rayner; "he managed to drag himself, with the assistance of
his shipmates, thus far, but he must be suffering."

"Be sure that I will attend to him," answered Madame La Roche. "I have
some skill in surgery, and it will be a satisfaction to exercise it on
one of your countrymen; but now Francois will conduct you to a room, and
supply you with such garments as he can collect. Your men in the
meantime will be attended to."

Francois on this stepped forward with his candles, and, with an
inimitable bow, requested the young officers to follow him. They bowing
again to madame and her daughters, followed the maitre d'hotel, who led
the way to a large room with two beds in it, as also a couple of cane
sofas, several chairs, a table, and, what was of no small consequence, a
washhand-stand.

"De best ting messieurs can do will be to get into de bed while I bring
dem some dry clothes," said Francois.

Rayner and Oliver requested, however, that they might be allowed, in the
first place, to wash their hands and faces.

This done, they jumped into their respective beds, and when once there
they agreed that, if they were