vidual who has caused you
all your trouble, for he is a pirate; and I can scarcely realise the
possibility of anyone who has ever enjoyed my poor mother's acquaintance
degenerating into such a character as that of pirate. But let that be
as it may, now that we are together, and have no longer any secrets from
each other, we can talk the whole affair unreservedly over together;
and, depend upon it, father, we shall eventually succeed in
satisfactorily demonstrating my mother's truthfulness and the
groundlessness of your suspicions that you held but a subordinate place
in her affection."

"May mercy grant it, Leo!" fervently ejaculated my father. We then sat
down and more composedly talked the whole affair over again, I asking
questions on such points as seemed to need further explanation, and my
father replying to them, until I thought I had gained all the
information it was possible for him to give. I was especially
particular in my questions respecting the man Merlani; and though my
father was unable to tell me much about him, the little I learned
sufficed me to arrive at the conclusion that our friend the hero of the
Conconil lagoons might, after all, turn out to be the same individual.
The only point which puzzled me was, if such were really the case, in
what possible way could such a man have ever been associated with my
mother!

The weather continued fine; and on the afternoon of the day following
our long conversation my little fleet sailed into Port Royal harbour,
and anchored not far from the _Mars_.

On going on board the flag-ship to report myself, I learned that the
admiral had left for the Penn nearly a couple of hours before; whilst
chatting with Captain Ayres, however, the signal midshipman belonging to
the _Mars_ reported a signal from the Penn, which turned out to be my
number; and, on this being answered by the _Dolphin_, it was followed by
an invitation to me to join my old friend at dinner, he having evidently
noticed our arrival and recognised the schooner on his way home.

I, of course, lost no time in obeying the signal; and, thinking I might
venture upon the liberty, took my father with me. We were both received
with the utmost cordiality, to which, in my own case, was added many
expressions of warm approval of my conduct. I then learned that, had I
arrived a day earlier, I should have had an opportunity of once more
meeting my old friend Courtenay, who had sailed that morning after
havi