“Who are you? and who sent you?” said she, looking down on me, and discovering one of the most beautiful faces I had ever beheld.
“No one sent me ma’am,” replied I, “but I was in the boat last night. I am sorry you were so unfortunate, but your box and cloak are quite safe.”
“You were one of the men in the boat. I trust no one was hurt when they fired at you?”
“No ma’am.”
“And where is the box?”
“In the house of the person who was with me.”
“Can he be trusted? For they will offer large rewards for it.”
“I should think so, ma’am,” replied I, smiling; “the person who was with me is a gentleman of large fortune, who was amusing himself on the river. He desires me to say that he will not give up the box until he knows to whom the contents legally belong.”
“Good heavens, how fortunate! Am I to believe you?”
“I should hope so, ma’am.”