sex, whose countenances showed that they were worthy of her confidence.

The marquis stood alone, and the old priest was seen behind him.

No sooner did the eyes of the captain fall on him than he exclaimed,
"What! Father Mendez is it you still on this side the grave? I meet
you very opportunely, for of all people you were the one I desired to
see. What! do you not recollect your old shipmate?"

"Perfectly," answered the priest in a low tone; "but I should have
thought, Pedro Alvarez, that I was the person of all others you would
have been most desirous of avoiding--I, who am cognisant of your crimes,
of the sacrilege you have committed, of your traitorous conduct--you, an
outcast from the bosom of our Holy Mother Church--even now I find you in
command of a ship belonging to the enemies of our country. If I speak,
it must be to pronounce the curse of our Holy Church and of Heaven on
your head."

"Hold, father! you are going ahead too fast," exclaimed the old seaman,
bluntly; "I have braved the curses of your Church too long to care for
them; those of Heaven--Heaven alone can pronounce or inflict; but call
not one a traitor who was unjustly driven from his country, and has
never ceased to love her. However, you are an ancient comrade, and as
such have the privilege of speaking freely. I wish to be on friendly
terms with you and every human being. I am never happier with the
feeling that I have made an enemy. But, as I was saving, I rejoice to
meet you, for you can render me a service which will enable me to
accomplish an object which has been nearer my heart than any other in
the world."

The English prisoners, as well as the marquis and his daughter, were
near.

"Yes, I will confess to you, my friends," he added, addressing them: "I
am not a Frenchman by birth, but a Spaniard--Pedro Alvarez by name, as
Father Mendez called me. With your wife's family, as I told you,
Colonel Armytage, I am well acquainted. For many months I have resided
in Shetland."

The marquis started, and cast an inquiring look at the captain's
countenance.

"Circumstances occurred there of which Father Mendez is cognisant. We
will speak of them by-and-by. My ship was wrecked, and my captain and
all his crew perished. I was the only officer saved. On my return to
Spain I was accused of heresy, and an officer of the Inquisition was
sent to apprehend me. Perhaps the Marquis de Medea may know something
about that. In self-defen