"No, my lord."
"Then shove some wood on the fire, it's nearly out."
Camotte threw on some dry wood, which flared up.
"Something like," said Mitchell; "and now let us talk, Camotte. By the way, I may as well ask you, are you very tired?"
"I am never too tired to serve you, Excellency," said the other.
"I knew you would say that," cried Mitchell; "true, I saved your life twice, but we have been quits long ago."
"And yet I want to ask a favour."
"Anything, except leave me," replied Tom Mitchell.
"Never; it is something else. It is simply this; don't, your lordship, give me such another mission. Whatever you may think, my master," cried Camotte, warmly, "it is not pleasant to play the part of a traitor and scoundrel."
"I think you did it very cleverly," laughed Tom; "there, you are an old fool. Whom else could I trust? Having settled that very important fact, any news on the island?"