Francois! Francois I Thou long-tried servitor of
Etienne Barberie, what the devil has become of thy mistress?"
"Mais, Monsieur," returned the disconsolate valet, whose decent features
exhibited all the signs of unequivocal suffering, "she no tell le pauvre
Francois! En supposant, que Monsieur ask le capitaine, he shall
probablement know."
The burgher cast a quick suspicious glance at Ludlow, and shook his head,
to express his belief that the young man was true.
"Go; desire Mr. Van Staats of Kinderhook to favor us with his company."
"Hold," cried Ludlow, motioning to the valet to withdraw. "Mr. Beverout,
an uncle should be tender of the errors of one so dear as this cruel,
unreflecting girl. You cannot think of abandoning her to so frightful a
fortune!"
"I am not addicted to abandoning any thing, Sir to which my title is just
and legal. But you speak in enigmas. If you are acquainted with the place
where my niece is secreted, avow it frankly, and permit me to take those
measures which the case requires."
Ludlow reddened to his forehead, and he struggled powerfully with his
pride and his regrets.
"It is useless to attempt concealing the step which Alida Barberie has
been pleased to take," he said, a smile so bitter passing over his
features, as to lend them the expression of severe mockery; "she has
chosen more worthily than either of us could have believed; she has found
a companion more suited to her station, her character, and her sex, than
Van Staats of Kinderhook, or a poor commander of a Queen's ship!"
"Cruisers and manors! What in the name of mysteries is thy meaning? The
girl is not here; you declare she is not on board of the Coquette, and
there remains only----"
"The brigantine!" groaned the young sailor uttering the word by a violent
effort of the will.
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