ught over several persons of whom
I had some suspicions when they came on board; yet I did not show what I
thought, and they somewhat to my surprise, seemed inclined to take me
into their confidence. They were Romanists, I discovered; but as such
have perfect freedom to enter or leave the country, I had no wish to
molest them. One of them fell sick while on board, and, as his
companions neglected him, I did my best to attend to his wants. When we
arrived in harbour, I kept him on board some days, and then took him on
shore, and had him attended to till he recovered. He then, it appears,
joined his companions; but last night he came on board my ship, and
entreated me to take him back to his native land, saying that he could
have nothing more to do with those with whom he had joined himself. He
told me that a villain who goes by the name of Martin has laid a plot to
rob this house, and either to carry off Sir Thomas Gresham or to murder
him. As he is a cunning villain, it is too likely that he will carry
out his plans, if care is not taken to guard against them."

I warmly thanked Captain Rover for this information, and begged that he
would allow me to bring him to Sir Thomas. He thanked me, but declined
seeing my patron.

"I do not require any reward of him; and if you repeat what I have told
you, my object is gained," he answered. "Perchance, some day I may make
myself known to him; but at present I have no desire to meet those I
once knew. I have been deprived of all I cared for or loved on earth;
and, if I had the power, I would begin a new existence, so as to forget
the past."

"But why not see my kind patron? he will surely not be ungrateful for
the important warning you have brought him; besides, he owes you a debt
of gratitude for the assistance you rendered us on board the _Diamond_.
I heard him say that, could he discover you, he would thankfully repay
you."

"I am sure that he would, my young friend," answered Captain Rover. "He
is a just and liberal man; but I require no assistance at present; when
I do, I promise you I will ask for it. And now I must bid you farewell;
I have myself an important undertaking on hand. I have good reason to
hate the bigoted Spaniards and their fearful idolatries, and to befriend
those they persecute. I have therefore agreed to assist in the escape
of a number of families who dread the persecutions of the Inquisition.
Already the demon Titelmann has carried off so