CHAPTER LXV. THE LIGHT STRONGER.
“Sedley asks for the best Italian scholar amongst us,” said Augustus the next morning, at breakfast, “and the voice of public opinion calls upon you, Julia.”
“You know what Figaro said of 'common report.' I'll not repeat it,” said she, laughing, “and I 'll even behave as if I did n't believe it. And now what is wanted of me, or my Italian scholarship?”
“The matter is thus: Sedley has received some papers”—here a look of intelligence passed between Augustus and Jack—“which he imagines may be of consequence, but being in Italian, he can't read them. He needs a translator—”
“I am equal to that,” broke she in, “but why don't we do it in committee, as you political people call it? Five heads are better than one.”
“Mr Sedley is absolute, and will have but one.”
“And am I to be closeted for a whole morning with Mr. Sedley? I declare it seems compromising. Jack frowns at me. There is nothing so prudish as a sailor. I wish any one would tell me why it is so.”
“Well, the matter is as you have stated it,” said Augustus. “Mr. Sedley says, 'Let me have the aid of some one who will not grudge me two hours, mayhap three. '”
“What if the documents should turn out love-letters?”