The pirate shrugged his shoulders, and they thought he laughed a little.
“Just now,” he replied, “I call myself the modern Red Rover—but I do that merely for the want of a better title. Captain Sparkle, who formerly commanded this vessel, is, unfortunately for him, detained elsewhere, and I have assumed his place. Perhaps it is not too much for me to admit that I was only known to you as Count Cadillac. Does that fact reassure you, Miss Harlan?”
“On the contrary, it fills me with dread.”
“Indeed! Why so?”
“Because I cannot understand how a man who possesses so many of the prerogatives of a gentleman as you do, can descend to such a vulgar calling as you have adopted.”
The pirate shrugged his shoulders again.
“It may be,” he said slowly, “that I will be able to make that plain to you—later.”
Bessie tossed her head, and was on the point of turning away, when the voice of the pirate arrested her.
“Wait!” he said sternly. “Remain where you are, Miss Harlan.”
She wheeled and faced him, with flaming cheeks and blazing eyes.