“Well?” said Justin, taking a chair and seating himself.
“Well,” said the prisoner, throwing himself into another chair, “there is a Yankee man-of-war in the cove below.”
“The United States sloop of war Xyphias, commanded by Captain Yetsom, is out there.”
“Exactly. And the officers are all coming here to dine to-day?”
“The captain, and as many officers as he can bring, are coming.”
“Precisely. So I understood from the gabble of the women flying past my door. Now I tell you what, Mr. Rosenthal, I wish to surrender myself to the captain of the Xyphias.”
“You will do well,” said Justin, with a feeling of intense relief; “that will be your best possible course, and it will save me from the distressing duty of delivering up a man whom I have sheltered in his need and nursed in his illness.”
“And shaken and choked in his cups, and handcuffed and locked up in his sleep, ha! ha! ha! ho! ho! ho!” laughed the man.
“It was the monster who proclaimed himself a rebel and a pirate, boasted himself a throat-cutter and a shipsinker, that I took care of in that way. Such a monster was not to be let loose upon two helpless women, who had not even the means of securely barricading their doors against him,” calmly replied Justin.
“Ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! Yes, when I’m in liquor I’m always a monster by my own account. I have then a mad delight in inspiring fear, horror and detestation.”