"And the officers? Do they make him welcome, treat him with courtesy?"
"Oh, yes, indeed. He is popular with them already, sings them sweet songs accompanied by that instrument of his; is a rare hand at tricks of all kinds with the pass-dice and cards, and so forth. They will miss him when he has gone."
"Humph! Does he say who or what he is--which island in the Indies he belongs to--who are his kith and kin?"
"He says not much, sir, on that score; except that he is well enough to do--is traveling more or less to kill time--cares very little where he goes to for the present, so that he sees the world. As for his home, he appears best acquainted with Jamaica."
"Ha!" said Sir George. "He says all that, does he? Yet, though 'tis not permissible to doubt those who stand more or less in the degree of guests, I somewhat suspect that young man of not being all he appears to be. There is some other reason for his voyage to Europe than that he gives; he comes not on mere pleasure only. I know that--some day if you ever meet him again you will very likely know it, too, Mr. Crespin."
"Perhaps," exclaimed Admiral Hopson--who was soon to become Sir John Hopson (with a good pension) for the gallant part he had played in the late fight--"he was a friend of that accursed monk, although he has not levanted as he did. And since you talk of meetings, why, i'fags, I would like to meet that gentleman once more."
"Levanted!" Sir George and I exclaimed together. "Is the monk set out?"
"Ay, he is," replied the other. "Went last night--the instant he could get his necessaries out of the galleon's hold. It was discourteous, too, since I had previously sent to crave a few words with him."
"'S faith," Sir George exclaimed with a laugh, "you are not turning Papist, old friend, are you? Didst want the monk to shrive or confess you, or receive you into his church?"
"Not I--no Papistical doings for me," the blunt old gentleman replied. "The church my mother had me baptised in, and under whose blessing I have been fighting all my life, is good enough for me to finish in. Still, had I a foolish woman's mind to change, 'twould not be to that man I should go."