"I think it is, sir," replied Paul, blushing deeply. "If you think I wrote that letter, sir, I hope you will do your duty."
"I certainly shall, though it break my heart."
"Whatever you do, sir, it will not alter my regard for you."
"I am already accused of partiality towards you, Captain Kendall," added Mr. Lowington. "I confess that I never had a pupil for whom I cherished so high an esteem and so warm a regard."
"Thank you, sir. You are now, as you always have been, very kind to me," replied Paul, hardly able to restrain the tears in which his emotions demanded expression.
"I must say that I deem this charge groundless and absurd; but I cannot explain it away. The writing in the note resembles yours in some respects; and the fact that the kind of paper on which the note is written is found in your possession alone has not been explained. Do you know anything about this note?"
"Nothing, sir; only that it came in the mail with the rest of the Josephine's letters."
"When did you get the paper which Mr. Hamblin found in your writing desk?"
"I bought it in Antwerp on Tuesday afternoon, when we went on shore," replied Paul, promptly.
"I shall be obliged to inquire further into this matter. You will have all hands called."