'Well,' said she, speaking rapidly, 'we must be seen together for some days. You must call upon the commander and talk of anything but me. Then come when I am in the house by pre-arrangement, and the matter can be dealt with. Meanwhile I should like to know your reason for picking up sailors.' 'I have a scheme in my head,' he answered. 'So I suppose,' she replied; 'and I engage that it concerns your brig.' 'You are a witch, miss,' he exclaimed, smiling at her. 'Of course, the knowing that I am here seeking sailors did not put that into your head.' 'I knew nothing about that until just now,' she answered; 'but fancies rose in my head when you talked of the brig whilst we were together.' They approached, and stood at the broken rail that fenced the stone. 'I hope you are not going below!' cried Miss Conway, flashing her eyes with command upon him. 'If you do, I protest I will bolt you down and leave another to release you. How many candles have you got?' 'I am not going to enter those caverns, believe me,' he answered. 'At the same time, I am wondering whether I could find an abandoned cave along this cliff with an outlet to the sea. There should be plenty. I do not want to go east; I mean to give the Downs, with the shipping and the men-of-war, a wide berth. Have you ever heard of such a cave?' 'Never. It may be found,' she answered. 'So you are going to turn smuggler? I could not marry a man whose body might be hanging in air within a month of the wedding.' 'I vow I am not going to turn smuggler. I purpose something infinitely more noble and more shining. I am a decayed gentleman, and a decayed gentleman must live. They won't find me a berth ashore, so I must go to sea, where I intend, in my brig, in a week or ten days, or say three weeks, to make a fortune.' 'Father can never object to that scheme,' exclaimed the girl; 'he admires commercial adventures, and would greatly respect you for loading your ship and sailing in search of fortune.' They continued to converse as they walked in the direction of the commander's house. Captain Jackman was mysterious, but his looks were eloquent. Ada's eyes dredged the captain's face for a hint, but got no idea. Suddenly he paused, and said-- 'Here we must part.' 'In view of my father's house! Certainly not. You will step in, Walter, and dine with us.' He seemed to shrink, with smiles full of courtesy. 'Oh,' said she, lightly catching hold of his cloak and bearing him towards the cottage, 'you are refusing a lady. I know you have no other engagement. Pray step in, and dine with us.' Almost unconsciously the stouthearted, manly, handsome Captain Jackman found himself in the commander's garden, walking towards the commander's house; and now there was the commander himself approaching them from his back garden, wearing carpet slippers and holding a broom, with which he had been attending to his fowls.