Pagina 154 de 896

"When the prisoner came on board, he noticed that my father,"

turning her eyes lovingly to him as he stood beside her, "was

much fatigued and in a very weak state of health. My father was

so reduced that I was afraid to take him out of the air, and I

had made a bed for him on the deck near the cabin steps, and I

sat on the deck at his side to take care of him. There were no

other passengers that night, but we four. The prisoner was so

good as to beg permission to advise me how I could shelter my

father from the wind and weather, better than I had done. I had

not known how to do it well, not understanding how the wind would

set when we were out of the harbour. He did it for me. He

expressed great gentleness and kindness for my father's state,

and I am sure he felt it. That was the manner of our beginning to

speak together."

"Let me interrupt you for a moment. Had he come on board alone?"

"No."

"How many were with him?"

"Two French gentlemen."

"Had they conferred together?"