"Why that cry, then, and your surprise, madam?" questioned the still unconvinced admiral.
"I know not, sir; I must have been dreaming, and the sound of a strange voice startled me."
"Beg pardon, m' Lud," said the sergeant, saluting; "yer Worship, he axed if Lady Elizabeth Howard lived 'ere, wen he was down in the courtyard."
"Silence, sirrah!" thundered the old admiral, who allowed no one to entertain doubts of his ward but himself. "Do you mean to imply that Lady Elizabeth has knowledge of this gentleman?"
"Oh, sergeant!" said the girl, clasping her hands and looking at the old veteran with all the fascination of which she was capable.
"No, yer Ludship, no, sir. O' course not; certainly not, yer Honor," returned the man, in great confusion. "I spoke by way o' showin' that's wot he come for."
"It was in pursuance of my desire to see so great a beauty that I asked the question, monsieur."
"Sir, your admiration does me too much honor," said Elizabeth, courtesying.
"I make up for the fact that your reputation does your Ladyship too little, then, mademoiselle," he answered.
"Enough of this," said the admiral, impatiently. "The girl is well enough; but you didn't come here to look at her, did you?"