o one was near, and they had been undisturbed.

CHAPTER V.

A STRANGE REVELATION.

The old Count Laborde had been too much weakened by suffering and
privation to recover very rapidly. For a few days he spent most of
his time reclining upon a couch in the little cabin, where Mimi
devoted herself to him with the tenderest care. At times she would
come upon deck at the urgent request of her father, and then Claude
would devote himself to her with still more tender care. The old man
did not take much notice of surrounding things. He lay most of the
time with his eyes closed, in a half-dreamy state, and it was only
with an effort that he was able to rouse himself to speak. He took no
notice whatever of any one but his daughter. Cazeneau made several
efforts to engage his attention, but he could not be roused.

Thus there were short intervals, on successive days, when Claude was
able to devote himself to Mimi, for the laudable purpose of beguiling
the time which he thought must hang heavy on her hands. He considered
that as he was in some sort the master of the schooner, these
strangers were all his guests, and he was therefore bound by the
sacred laws of hospitality to make it as pleasant for them as
possible. Of course, also, it was necessary that he should exert his
hospitable powers most chiefly for the benefit of the lady; and this
necessity he followed up with very great spirit and assiduity.

By the conversation which he had already had with her, it will be
seen that they had made rapid advances towards intimacy. Claude was
eager to extend this advance still farther, to take her still more
into his confidence, and induce her to take him into hers. He was
very eager to tell her all about himself, and the nature of his
present voyage; he was still more eager to learn from her all that
she might know about the Montresor family. And thus he was ever on
the lookout for her appearance on deck.

These appearances were not so frequent as he desired; but Mimi's
devotion to her father kept her below most of the time. At such times
Claude did the agreeable to the other passengers, with varying
success. With the lieutenant he succeeded in ingratiating himself
very rapidly; but with Cazeneau all his efforts proved futile. There
was about this man a sullen reserve and _hauteur_ which made
conversation difficult and friendship impossible. Claude was full of
_bonhomie_, good-nature generally, and sociability; but Cazene