But Greaves shook his head, smiling into her eyes, which were impassioned with entreaty.
“I must go straight home,” said he. “Do not you know that there is a treasure in our hold, which obliges me to make haste to reach England? I will take care that you safely arrive at Madrid, even should it come to myself escorting you, señorita.”
She bowed, looking sadly.
“Or here,” said he, extending his hand toward me, “is a cavalier who will be honored by conducting you to Madrid.”
She slightly glanced at me, then fastened her eyes upon the deck and mused for a few moments; then addressed Antonio, who, turning to me, said—but in English, you will please understand, which I do not attempt to reproduce, that you may read without hindrance:
“The lady recollects that when she met you at Lima you spoke Spanish.”
“I was never at Lima,” I answered, coloring and then laughing.
“Depend upon it,” said Greaves, “that the fellow she met was good-looking, or recollection wouldn’t be so bright.”
“What was the occupation of the gentleman?” said I to the lady, through Antonio.
“He was an English naval officer, had been imprisoned, but had been at liberty some weeks when the señorita met him.”