'Hush! Catalina, where is my sister? and Etta? Have you heard no news? Everything is lost, and this place is in the hands of the pirates. This youth was the same one Etta saw. He is a prisoner, he says. If so, he is a fellow-sufferer; and just now he behaved with much courtesy.'
'Come in, then, and let me bar the door once more. Oh, the noise those wretches have been making. It is as if all the demons were walking below. My poor Felipa is well hidden in that cupboard, and I made Etta go there too. Alas, alas, that I should be alive to hear such things! But, anyhow, they must kill me before they touch her. My cara Felipa! I believe she will die of fright.'
Harry Fenn stood by during this conversation, much perplexed at all he saw; for he did not understand that the Marquis had not acquainted his son with his treacherous surrender. His surprise was still greater when in another moment Etta, hearing Carlo's voice, appeared out of the dark cupboard where Catalina had insisted Felipa and Etta should hide, when on the return of the latter she had understood that something extraordinary was happening.
'Carlo, tell us--but, oh, who is this? The English lad? Are you Captain Morgan's son? No--it cannot be; for then you would not be here, nor would you look so kind.'
'You were right, Etta; this English lad is a prisoner, and has kindly helped me up here; otherwise I should be still lying under the wall, or perhaps I might now be killed by those wretches.'
Harry Fenn was delighted at finding himself face to face with a countrywoman of his own. It seemed almost a miracle to be in a room again--a room which spoke of civilised and refined life, and which contained an English girl; for there was no mistaking her nationality, though she immediately informed him of the fact.
'I knew you were no robber when I saw you come to the castle. I am an English girl, and a prisoner here.'
'Etta, what foolish talk!' said Carlo. 'As long as I am here you are no prisoner.'
'But tell me how you came to be with that dreadful Henry Morgan,' cried Etta, much excited.
By this time Catalina, having gathered that Harry was no enemy, thought that he might be hungry, and brought out some bread from a cupboard; and the poor fellow fell upon it with such evident hunger that Etta's heart was touched, and she continued to talk to Harry.