“Yes,” replied Abel Force, “and the last three years of lawless life has made him even more brutal than ever.”
“He was in his earlier life a protégé of Anglesea’s. It was his influence that got him into the royal navy. But he is and has been for years a sharp thorn in the side of Angus, taking advantage of his personal resemblance to his cousin, using his knowledge of his relative’s affairs and his skill in imitating his handwriting to swindle every one everywhere who came under his notice. This was the adventurer who tried to marry your daughter, Force. It is well the marriage was stopped at the altar, though the California woman, poor soul, had no right to interfere.”
“Why?” demanded Abel Force.
“Because Stukely has a wife and five children living near Anglewood on the charity of Angus Anglesea.”
“Thank Heaven!” exclaimed Abel Force, earnestly. “There is now nothing to prevent the happiness of my dear Odalite and Leonidas.”
“I don’t know what you are both talking about, I am sure,” complained the old skipper.
“No, you do not know our family history for the last six years, Capt. Grandiere, or the trouble we have suffered through that man of whom we have been speaking; but you shall know all at our earliest convenience.”
“But Roland! Oh, Roland! What will become of my boy?” groaned the captain.
“Can you not prove that he was taken prisoner by the pirate?” demanded Mr. Force.
“Yes; but I cannot prove that he did not join the pirates, as Silver told me that he meant to do. And here he is under a false name—Craven Cloud, first officer to the pirate captain! It looks black! I wish I had never lived to see this day!” groaned the captain.