st her future happiness to an
Englishman and a heretic.

[Illustration: _Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too
busy with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter._]

It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that the admiral
should not have discovered the frequent visits of the _Enterprise_ to
Porto Rico, as Edward was obliged to bring his log for examination every
time that he returned; but the admiral was satisfied with Edward's
conduct, and his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for him
to do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's secretary,
carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's secretary threw the
packages on one side, and thought no more of the matter, and Edward had
always a ready story to tell when he took his seat at the admiral's
dinner-table; besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel who
does not know how to write a log that will bear an investigation. A
certain latitude is always allowed in every degree of latitude as well
as longitude.

The _Enterprise_ had been despatched to Antigua, and Edward thought this
an excellent opportunity to pay a visit to Clara d'Alfarez: he
therefore, upon his return, hove-to off the usual headland, and soon
perceived the white curtain thrown out of the window.

'There it is, sir,' said one of the midshipmen who was near him--for he
had been there so often that the whole crew of the _Enterprise_ were
aware of his attachment--'she has shown her flag of truce.'

'A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren,' replied Edward, laughing; 'how
came you to know anything about it?'

'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to
go on shore and wait for you to-night.'

'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind
the headland.'

The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended
his commander on shore, the _Enterprise_ lying-to with a lantern at her
peak.

'Once more, dearest Clara!' said Edward, as he threw off her long veil
and pressed her in his arms.

'Yes, Edward, once more--but I am afraid only once more; for my maid,
Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. I
fear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), she
has told all. She is better now.'

'Why should you imagine so, Clara?'

'Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill!
Our religion is not like yours.