'Who knows that, Mr. Hadley? Send for his logs, and let us examine them; he may have been keeping up the acquaintance.'
The logs of the Enterprise were examined, and there were the fatal words—Porto Rico, Porto Rico, bearing in every division of the compass, and in every separate cruise, nay, even when the schooner was charged with despatches.
'Plain enough,' said the admiral. 'Confounded young scamp, to embroil me in this way! Not that his marrying the girl is any business of mine; but I will punish him for disobedience of orders, at all events. Try him by a court-martial, by heavens!'
The secretary made no reply: he knew very well that the admiral would do no such thing.
'The Enterprise anchored at daylight, sir,' reported the secretary as the admiral sat down to breakfast.
'And where's Mr. Templemore?'
'He is outside in the veranda. They have told him below of what he has been accused, and he swears it is false. I believe him, sir, for he appears half mad at the intelligence.'
'Stop a moment. Have you looked over his log?'
'Yes, sir. It appears that he was off Porto Rico on the 19th; but the Spanish governor's letter says that he was there on the 17th, and again made his appearance on the 19th. I mentioned it to him, and he declares upon his honour that he was only there on the 19th, as stated in his log.'
'Well, let him come in and speak for himself.'