He started quickly and raised his head. Twice he passed his hand to and fro across his eyes, and finally, with a look of deep anxiety on his frank, honest face, he spoke.
CHAPTER XII.
AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
“Maitland,” said the earl, with a look upon the youth full of confidence and esteem, “the time has come when I must speak frankly with you; and I shall trust that you will be equally frank with me.”
“Lord Allerdale,” Percy returned, with a depth of feeling that imparted a perceptible tremor to his voice and to his frame, “say to me what you will—ask me what you will—and I will reply to you as I can. I will answer everything within my power to answer; and if I offer a suggestion or a remark of any kind it shall be frankly and truthfully done.”
“I believe you, my boy. I will not hesitate to say I have perfect confidence in you.” He paused a few seconds, and then went on:
“You have no doubt, I suppose, that the cavern which you so wonderfully discovered is, at the present time, used by the crew of the smuggler brig, the Staghound?”
“I am confident that such is the case, my lord.”
“Percy, I am now going to ask you a question which you will answer as you think proper. What is your candid opinion of the present character of the crew of that vessel?”
“I would divide the crew into two classes, my lord,” answered the youth, promptly, and with a bold frank look into the old man’s earnest eyes. “There are men of that crew who are good and true—men who are outlawed, I know, but who have much excuse for the course of life into which they have been led. Another part of the crew, including the chief, I believe to be about as bad—as wicked—as it is possible for men to be.”