"In one of my father's ships," I replied. "I am a seaman on board of her."
"What, the Cabot?" asked Sister Agatha, suddenly, with a color in her cheeks.
"No, a new ship—the Gentile."
The nun made many inquiries about my father and mother, and her cousins in Boston; and we chatted away quite merrily for some minutes.
"You seem to take an interest in the world, after all," said I, striving to lead the conversation so that I might introduce the matter which was my business.
"Not much, generally," sighed Sister Agatha. "I sometimes think of past times with regret, but I am for the most part very happy."
This was a stumper. I determined to see if all this composure was real.
"Can any one hear us?" I whispered.
"No," answered the nun, opening her great eyes.
"Well, then, I've a great deal to tell you. Let me ask you, in the first place, if you know where your brother Pedro is."