"I will agree not to prosecute, if you will answer all my questions," he replied; but I confess that it was an error on the part of the young man.
Donald fastened the painter of his skiff at the stern, and took a seat in the standing-room of the Juno.
"I will tell you all I know, if you will keep me out of the courts," added Laud, promptly.
"Why did you set the Maud afire?"
"Because I was mad, and meant to get even with you for what you did at Rodman's this afternoon. You might do me a great service, Don John, if you would. I like Nellie Patterdale; I mean, I'm in love with her. I don't believe I can live without her."
"I'll bet you'll have to," interposed Donald, indignantly.
"You don't know what it is to love, Don John."
"I don't want to know yet awhile; and I think you had better live on a different sort of grub. What a stupid idea, for a fellow like you to think of such a girl as Nellie Patterdale!"
"Is it any worse for me to think of her, than it is for you to do so?" asked Laud.
"I never thought of her in any such way as that. We went to school together, and have always been good friends; that's all."