n.

"He had not, I assure you," I replied; "he had lost so many in an attack
on shore, and had so many away in prizes."

Our conversation had attracted general notice, and a French army officer
observed, "Monsieur speaks so positively, that one would imagine that he
was actually on board."

"And so I was, Sir," replied I, "and have my wounds to show for it. I
knew this officer immediately I saw him, for I was close to Captain
Weatherall at the time that this officer expostulated with him before
the action; and I crossed my sword with him during the combat."

"You have convinced me that you were on board," replied the captain of
the privateer, "by your mentioning the expostulations previous to the
combat taking place. I am delighted to have met with so brave an enemy,
for every man on board that vessel was a hero."

The conversation was then general, and many particulars were asked; and
I will do, the French captain the justice to say, that he was very
correct in all his statements, and neither vaunted his own success, nor
did us less than justice.

The party then broke up to go to the theatre, and afterwards we repaired
to the hotel. I remained there two days more, and on the last of these
two days I had promised to sup with the French captain of the privateer,
who had called upon me, and behaved very politely. The following day,
after noon, when the tide served, I was to sail. Accordingly, after the
theatre was over, I went with the French captain to his house, in
company with two or three more. Supper was on the table when we arrived
there, and we went into the room, waiting for the presence of the
captain's lady, who had not gone to the theatre, and to whom I had not
been introduced. After a few minutes she made her appearance, and as
she entered the room, I was struck with her extreme beauty, although she
was past the meridian of life. I thought I had seen her face before,
and as she came forward with her husband, it at once rushed into my mind
that she was the widow of the French gentleman who had so gallantly
fought his vessel, and who fell by my hand--the lady who was nursing her
son at the King's Hospital at Jamaica, and who had been so inveterate
against me. Our eyes met, and her cheeks flushed; she recognised me,
and I coloured deeply as I bowed to her. She was taken with a
faintness, and fell back. Fortunately her husband received her in his
arms.

"What is the matter, my love?" he said.