“You have an order to communicate to me, sir, and from whom?”
“From the Minister of Marine.”
“An order addressed to me personally?” reiterated the captain, doubtingly.
“Not personally to you, sir; but to any captain of the royal navy, who may be about to sail for South America.”
“Of what nature is it, count?”
“A state prisoner to be transported to Cayenne.”
“And you have the order with you?”
“Here it is,” replied Emanuel, taking it from his pocket, and presenting it to the captain.
He took the paper, and going near the cabin window, that he might avail himself of the last gleam of daylight, he read aloud:
“The Ministers of Marine and of the Colonies, orders any captain or lieutenant, commanding a government vessel, who may be about to sail for South America, or for the Gulf of Mexico, to take on board his ship and to land at Cayenne, the person named Lusignan, condemned to transportation for life. During the passage the convict shall take his meals in his own cabin, and shall not be allowed to have any communication with the ship’s company.”