"Well spoken, Temeraire."
The Admiral raised his empty sleeve and flapped it to and fro, then spoke:
"Fergusson, you have had the best opportunity of judging how far this gentleman is to be believed. What is your opinion?"
Like most jailers, who are not naturally cruel, Fergusson had a protective sentiment towards his late prisoner; so he replied:
"I have had no means of testing his truthfulness, my Lord. On the other hand, I have no cause to doubt it."
"Oi should trice the rascal to the yardarm, Sir," interposed the Irish officer who had previously spoken.
"What say you, Hardy?"
"I say, do nothing till after the battle. It would be murder."
The Admiral smiled pleasantly. His flag-captain's opinion coincided entirely with his own.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I believe these despatches to be genuine; that they were not meant to fall into our hands. At any rate, I intend to act upon the information they contain. I am confident that to-morrow's dawn will witness the defeat of another Armada; that, once more, the brave hearts of English sailors will win a glorious victory for our country."