omitting to mention the fact of my being an officer of
the Slave Squadron; for I had already stated this to the chief mate, and
from what had transpired earlier in the day I knew that he, in turn, had
communicated the information to his captain. That what I told him did
not appear greatly to increase his state of irritation seemed proof
enough that he had already learned all the material facts, and I
congratulated myself upon having shown him that I was not to be
frightened into the suppression of any portion of my history, no matter
how damaging its effect might be expected to be upon my interests. When
I had told him everything he remained silent for quite two or three
minutes, drumming the table meditatively with his fingers.

At length he looked up from the table, at which he had been moodily
glowering, and said:

"Monsieur Fortescue, I thank you for the evident frankness with which
you have told your story; and, in return, feel that you are entitled to
some explanation of what you must doubtless have deemed my very
extraordinary conduct of this morning. It is unnecessary for me to
enter into details, but I may inform you that I have suffered
irreparable loss and injury at the hands of the English. They have
chosen to regard the method by which I earn my living as unlawful, and
on no less than four occasions have brought me to the verge of ruin at
the moment when I was upon the point of realising a handsome competence.
They have persecuted me relentlessly, confiscated my property, slain my
two brothers in action, and would have hanged me ignominiously, had I
not been fortunate enough to effect my escape from them; and it was an
Englishman who--well, that is a story into which I need not enter with
you; let it suffice to say that the injuries which I have suffered at
the hands of your countrymen have been such, that the mere name of
Englishman excites me to a very frenzy of anger and hate, in which I am
really not responsible for my actions. Now, the question is: What is to
be done with you? I tell you candidly that your life is not safe for a
moment while you remain on board this ship. Even as you sit there the
memory of all that I have suffered at the hands of your countrymen so
strongly moves me that I find it exceedingly difficult to refrain from
blowing your brains out--"

"But, monsieur," I interrupted, "pardon me for suggesting such a thing,
but are you not surrendering yourself to a very childish we