If the men of
Captain Ludlow were at first imprisoned, I presume they were set at
liberty at the proper time."
"They are carried I know not whither--the boat itself is gone, and I am
here alone."
"Am I to understand, Captain Ludlow, that Alida Barberie has not fled my
house, during the past night, to seek a refuge in your ship?"
"Fled!" echoed the young man, in a voice of horror. "Has Alida de Barberie
fled from the house of her uncle, at all?"
"Captain Ludlow, this is not acting. On the honor of a gentleman, are you
ignorant of my niece's absence?"
The young commander did not answer; but, striking his head fiercely, he
smothered words that were unintelligible to his companion. When this
momentary burst of feeling was past, he sunk into a chair, and gazed about
him in stupid amazement. All this pantomime was inexplicable to the
Alderman, who, however, began to see that more of the conditions of the
arrangement in hand were beyond the control of his companion, than he had
at first believed. Still the plot thickened, rather than grew clear; and
he was afraid to speak, lest he might utter more than was prudent. The
silence, therefore, continued for quite a minute; during which time, the
parties sat gazing at each other in dull wonder.
"I shall not deny, Captain Ludlow, that I believed you had prevailed on
my niece to fly aboard the Coquette; for, though a man who has always kept
his feelings in his own command, as the safest manner of managing
particular interests, yet I am not to learn that rash youth is often
guilty of folly.
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