“Uncle, when can I see Odalite?”
“As soon as you please, my boy!”
“I wish I could see her to-night But to-night duty holds me here. Franklin, my second in command, has gone on shore for the first time to see his family, who reside here, and whom he has not seen for three years. So I cannot get off to-night! But early to-morrow! How early may I see her to-morrow?”
“Come and breakfast with us at nine to-morrow. That is about as early as we can manage.”
“I will go!”
“And now, Le, tell us about Roland Bayard. How comes it that he is in the uniform of the pirate’s mate? How comes it that he is brought here as a prisoner, instead of as a rescued captive?”
The countenance of the young man fell, all the joyous life died out of it, and he murmured:
“I had forgotten! In my own selfish joy I had forgotten,’”
“Forgotten? What, Le?”
“I had forgotten Roland’s position. Oh, Uncle Abel! It is a most cruel one!”