and food had been placed upon the table by Benjamin, Captain
Blood's negro steward and cook, who had intimated to them that it was
for their entertainment. But it had remained untouched. Brother and
sister sat there in agonized bewilderment, conceiving that their escape
was but from frying-pan to fire. At length, overwrought by the suspense,
mademoiselle flung herself upon her knees before her brother to implore
his pardon for all the evil brought upon them by her wicked folly.

M. d'Ogeron was not in a forgiving mood.

"I am glad that at least you realize what you have done. And now this
other filibuster has bought you, and you belong to him. You realize
that, too, I hope."

He might have said more, but he checked upon perceiving that the door
was opening. Captain Blood, coming from settling matters with the
followers of Levasseur, stood on the threshold. M. d'Ogeron had not
troubled to restrain his high-pitched voice, and the Captain had
overheard the Frenchman's last two sentences. Therefore he perfectly
understood why mademoiselle should bound up at sight of him, and shrink
back in fear.

"Mademoiselle," said he in his vile but fluent French, "I beg you to
dismiss your fears. Aboard this ship you shall be treated with all
honour. So soon as we are in case to put to sea again, we steer a course
for Tortuga to take you home to your father. And pray do not consider
that I have bought you, as your brother has just said. All that I
have done has been to provide the ransom necessary to bribe a gang of
scoundrels to depart from obedience to the arch-scoundrel who commanded
them, and so deliver you from all peril. Count it, if you please, a
friendly loan to be repaid entirely at your convenience."

Mademoiselle stared at him in unbelief. M. d'Ogeron rose to his feet.

"Monsieur, is it possible that you are serious?"

"I am. It may not happen often nowadays. I may be a pirate. But my ways
are not the ways of Levasseur, who should have stayed in Europe, and
practised purse-cutting. I have a sort of honour--shall we say, some
rags of honour?--remaining me from better days." Then on a brisker note
he added: "We dine in an hour, and I trust that you will honour my table
with your company. Meanwhile, Benjamin will see, monsieur, that you are
more suitably provided in the matter of wardrobe."

He bowed to them, and turned to depart again, but mademoiselle detained
him.

"Monsieur!" she cried sharply.

He checked and t