equally abominable, you and I might now be
under the same flag, belonging to an empire which might set the whole
united world at defiance. It's a pity it was not so. The only hope
now left is that our countries may always be good friends, as they
are now, as you and I are--as we always are, whenever we meet under
such circumstances as those which occurred when you and I became
acquainted. 'Blood is thicker than water,' said old Tatnall, when he
sent his Yankee sailors to help Admiral Hope; and the same sentiment
is still in the mind of every true Englishman whenever he sees an
American of the right sort."

"Them's my sentiments," said Obed, heartily. "And although I don't
generally hanker after Britishers, yet I have a kind of respect for
the old country, in spite of its narrowness and contraction, and all
the more when I see that it can turn out men like you."

After a short stroll the two seated themselves in a quiet sequestered
place, and had a long conversation. Obed informed him of the many
events which had occurred since their last meeting. The news about
Black Bill was received by Lord Chetwynde with deep surprise, and he
had a strong hope that this might lead to the capture of Gualtier.
Little did he suspect the close connection which he had had with the
principals in this crime.

He then questioned Obed, with deep interest, about his life in
Naples, about his journey to Florence, and many other things, with
the purpose of drawing him on to speak about one whom he could not
name without emotion, but about whom he longed to hear. Obed said
nothing about her; but, in the course of the conversation, he told
all about that affair in the Pontine Marshes, in which he recently
vanished from view at a very critical moment.

Obed's account was given with his usual modesty; for this man, who
was often so grandiloquent on the subject of his country, was very
meek on the subject of himself. To give his own words would be to
assign a very unimportant part to the chief actor in a very
remarkable affair, so that the facts themselves may be more
appropriately stated. These facts Lord Chetwynde gathered from Obed's
narrative in spite of his extreme modesty.

After Obed's shot, then, there had been silence for a time, or rather
inaction among the assailants. The agitation of his family excited
his sympathy, and once more he reassured them, telling them that the
affair was not worth thinking about, and urging them to be cal