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.”
Edward came in, in a state of great agitation.
“Well, Mr Templemore, you have been playing pretty tricks! What is all this, sir? Where is the girl, sir—the governor’s daughter?”
“Where she is, sir, I cannot pretend to say; but I feel convinced that she has been carried off by the pirates.”