Mrs Armytage
was in all concerning her unhappy sister, while he was most anxious to
show his gratitude by serving her.

Pedro Alvarez then explained who he himself was, and told his astonished
hearer that the pirate Tacon, whom he had on board, was the very man who
had carried off Hilda's child, which child had been rescued and brought
up by him.

"Then the young officer whom I have so often and so unexpectedly met,
and who appears to have such bitter animosity towards me, is no other
than Hernan Escalante, the long-lost son of my kind patroness Donna
Hilda?" exclaimed Ronald.

"Such is the case," said Pedro Alvarez. "He has fallen in love with his
fair cousin, and he believes that you are his rival. He has another
reason for disliking you, but of that by-and-by. I believe that I can
do you a service, and certainly you can do me a considerable one. You
owe me a good turn, let me tell you; for in consequence of having
assisted you to escape, I was obliged to take command of a privateer,
bound for the East Indies, and to make my escape from France. I was
wandering about in those seas for many years; but at length, having some
friends in power, I was reinstated in the French navy. However, my
heart has never been estranged from Spain. She is at peace with
England; and as I now hope to see the great object of my existence
accomplished--the son of my old captain established in his rights--I
purpose throwing off my allegiance to France, and becoming once more a
Spaniard. I have told you all this, at a moment so unfitting, because I
am anxious that you should endeavour to prevent any of the persons who
were on board my frigate from escaping. Tacon will certainly make the
attempt. He does not know of what crimes he may be found guilty, and
instinctively will do what he can to be at liberty."

In a few words the worthy Pedro also told Ronald who the marquis and the
old priest were, and he undertook to do his best to keep a watch on them
till they had given the evidence required to establish young Hernan in
his rights.

"Believe me," he added, "I wish him no ill, and I would gladly make any
sacrifice to see him restored to his mother and the possessor of his
paternal inheritance. As to the marquis, I am not surprised at what you
tell me; I never liked him when we had him on board the `Imperious,'
while the priest always puzzled me. Tacon showed himself to be a most
perfect rogue, and I suspect will give us no li