stances, not only has his life been preserved, but we can, without
doubt, prove his identity to satisfy the most rigid demands of a court
of law."

The priest's slow mode of speaking did not at all satisfy poor Hilda's
eagerness. She turned to his companion.

"Tell, Pedro Alvarez, where is he?" she exclaimed. "I care not now for
the means by which he has been preserved. Where can I find him? When
can I see him? You swore to search for him. Did you fulfil your
promise? Oh! bring him to me, if you have found him."

"Lady, I did fulfil my promise most faithfully, and to the service of
your son I have devoted my life. It may be weeks or months before you
can see him, but I have every reason to hope that he is safe at this
moment in France. But the means were afforded me of coming here, and,
moreover, of producing all the existing witnesses necessary to prove the
legality of his birth in the first place, his identity in the second,
and his right, if not to the castle and estates of Lunnasting, to the
rank which his father would have held of Marquis de Medea, and the
valuable property attached to it."

The hapless mother heaved a deep sigh.

"All that I doubt not; but could you not have brought him to me?" she
gasped out, as she sunk once more back in her seat. It was some time
before either she or her visitors again spoke. At last Father Mendez
saw that it would be advantageous to her to break the silence.

"Donna Hilda, I crave your pardon," he said, "but I have been charged
with a request from the captain of yonder ship, one who owns himself to
be deeply indebted to you in his youth, Ronald Morton. It is, that you
will give shelter to an old man, who has long been ill, and his
daughter, who has accompanied him. I will not tell you the old man's
name; but he feels that he has much to ask you to forgive, ere he can
die in peace. He has not many days to live, so you will not have long
to exercise your mercy."

Hilda scarcely appeared to comprehend the last remarks.

"Yes, yes; whatever you desire, most readily do I grant," she answered.
"An old man, you say? If he thinks that he can die in peace on shore,
let him come here and finish his remaining days."

It was some time before Hilda was sufficiently tranquillised to listen
to the details which Pedro Alvarez had to give her of the recapture of
her son from the pirate Tacon, the causes of his flight from Europe,
which prevented him from bringing Herna