“Take a seat, my son,” he said, “I have yet many questions to ask you. I am afraid I forgot that you might be tired.”
“Now tell me,” he continued, when René had seated himself, “do you think this indifference was assumed by way of disarming suspicion and for the purpose of effecting a speedy escape?”
“No!”
“Did you converse together to any extent?”
“We were naturally thrown together a great deal; especially after the death of the 'patron.' He was of great assistance to me and to Hoel Grall, the second in command, by reason of his knowledge of seamanship.”
“Ah! He is expert in such matters?”
“Yes, my father.”
A further note was here added to the partially-filled page of the manuscript book.
“Of what subjects did he speak? Of religion, our Order, politics, himself and his captivity?”
“Of none of those.”