"Good-evening, sir," he said, in response to the former's salutation. "Captain Pearson?"
"I have sent for him, my Lord," replied the officer, and the next moment the captain himself came bustling out of the darkness to do honor to the old admiral.
"Ah, Captain Pearson, good-evening."
"Good-evening to your Lordship."
"The prisoner I sent off--he has been duly executed, I presume?"
"Why, no, sir!" said the captain, alarmed at this confirmation of his suspicions. "We were about ready to carry out the sentence; the command to sway aloft had been given, in fact, when we received your reprieve."
"My reprieve!" said the admiral, in great surprise. "What mean you? I sent no reprieve."
"Sir, sir!" cried the astonished captain. "It was brought here by your ward, Lady Elizabeth Howard."
"Elizabeth! Good God!" cried the old man, starting violently. "Her maid said she was ill--she must have--did you inspect it carefully, sir?" he asked, checking himself.
"Yes, my Lord. It seemed to be all right; but the whole proceeding was so irregular and unlike you that I called upon--"