Part 2 (2/2)
”You need have no fear,” she exclaiht ”Father Petreni can be fully trusted He is ious confessor; he has been my friend from childhood”
”Yes, Monsieur,” he interposed sadly, yet with a grave s his thin white face ”I shall be able to accomplish little in your aid, for my trade is not that of arms, yet, within my physical limitations, I am freely at your service”
”That is well,” I responded heartily, words and tone yielding ht when comrades will need to know each other Now a few questions, after which I will look over the ground before atte to outline any plan of action
You say, Madame, that your--Chevalier de Noyan is a prisoner on the fleet in the river Upon which shi+p is he confined?”
”The 'Santa Maria'”
”The 'Santa Maria'?--if -shi+p”
”She lies, as I re the strange spectacle, close in toward the shore, beside the old sugar warehouse of Bomanceaux et fils”
”You are correct,” returned the Capuchin soberly, the lady hesitating
”The shi+p swingeth by her cable scarce thirty feet froood fortune,” I thought, revolving rapidly a sudden inspiration from his answer, ”yet it will prove a desperate trick to try”
Then I spoke aloud once more
”She appeared a veritable h to pluck the heart out of a man Has either of you stepped aboard her?”
The priest shook his shaven head despondently
”Nay; never any Frenchman, except as prisoner in shackles, has found foothold upon that deck since O'Reilly caro boatoes of fruit and vegetables, so closely is she guarded against all chances of treachery”
”Faith! it ilance With what is De Noyan charged?”
”He, with others, is held for treason against the King of Spain”
”There are more than one, then?”
”Five” He lowered his voice al them”
”Lafreniere?” I uttered the name in astonishment ”Then why ahtless exclalect, yet the words she strove to speak failed to coreat injustice by such inconsiderate speech, my son
There are hearts loyal to France in this province, ould count living a crime if it on at the cost of Lafreniere He hath been already offered liberty, yet deliberately chooseth to remain and meet his fate Holy Mother! we can do no ently betweenyou pardon me, Madame; I am not yet wholly myself, and intended no such offence as my hasty words would see ay with a radiant se Yet it hurt htless toward my father”
”You have seen him since his arrest?”