"Well, my dear Helena," he replied, "those people have no hearts!"
"They refused?"
"Yes, they refused me a vessel: they spoke of the millions vainly spent in searching for Franklin; they declared the document was vague and unintelligible; they said that the shipwreck of these unfortunates had happened two years ago, and that there was little chance of finding them. They maintained too, that, if prisoners of the Indians, they must have been carried into the interior of the country; that they could not ransack all Patagonia to find three men,—three Scotchmen; the search would be vain and perilous, and would cost the lives of more men than it would save. In short, they gave all the absurd reasons of people who mean to refuse. They remembered the captain's projects, and I fear that the unfortunate man is forever lost!"
"My father, my poor father!" cried Mary Grant, throwing herself at the feet of Lord Glenarvan.
"Your father! What, Miss——?" said he, surprised at seeing a young girl at his feet.
"Yes, Edward, Miss Grant and her brother," replied Lady Helena; "the two children of Captain Grant, who have thus been condemned to remain orphans."
"Ah, miss!" answered Lord Glenarvan, "if I had known of your presence——"
He said no more. A painful silence, interrupted only by sobs, reigned in the court-yard. No one raised his voice, neither Lord Glenarvan, Lady Helena, the major, nor the servants of the castle, who were standing about even at this early hour. But by their attitude they all protested against the conduct of the officials.
After several moments the major resumed the conversation, and, addressing Lord Glenarvan, said,—
"Then you have no more hope?"