“I think,” said the Admiral, “that it must have been a certain lieutenant attached to the Osprey, who was, I judge from what you have told me, lately married in Paris to a beautiful young Corsican lady.”
“Whew!” exclaimed Vandemar. “What possible proof can you have for such a ridiculous statement?”
“Well,” remarked the Admiral, “if you will let me go on with my story, I think I can make it as plain to you as it is to me.”
“Proceed, my dear Admiral,” said Vandemar, “but when you are through you will have to undergo a cross-examination.”
“My estate,” the Admiral began, “is a good five miles from the nearest village. When we left the mailcoach my own carriage was waiting for us—I ordered it ahead—but it was nine o’clock at night, and dark at that. I was for staying over night, but as we had a guest with us, Helen was for pushing on—and on we pushed.”
Vandemar forgot himself: “A guest?—Excuse me, Admiral.”
“Oh, that’s all right I ought to have told you that Doctor Frobisher was with us. He’s an orphan or something of that sort and had no place to go. Well, we had covered about two miles when we heard a pistol-shot close behind us, and Chudleigh, our driver, pulled up the horses with a jerk. Jack jumped out to see what the matter was. His feet had no sooner touched the ground than he saw a pistol pointed at him. Bless my soul! We were at the mercy of a highwayman, the worst of all land sharks. The fellow made me get out next, but Helen refused to move. She argued with the highwayman, telling him that his calling was nefarious and that he would surely end his days on the scaffold. The fellow reached in, caught hold of Helen, and tried to pull her out of the carriage. That was more than Jack could stand. He jumped upon the rascal and down they went. That fencing of yours was fine—the best I ever saw—but in a rough-and-tumble fight I think Jack can hold his own with the best of them. When Jack got through with the highwayman, we left him to sleep off his troubles.”
“Good for Jack!” Vandemar exclaimed, involuntarily.
“You are right,” said the Admiral. “You know how fond Helen is of personal bravery? Well, she was delighted, and she told John so. Either the scuffle or her praise unlimbered his tongue, and while I was asleep in a corner of the carriage, he had the audacity to propose and was accepted. A most re-mark-a-ble affair. They were married a week ago. I couldn’t get away any sooner.”
At that moment the driving party returned, and all joined in congratulating the Admiral in saving his money from the highwayman and securing so desirable a son-in-law.