General Humbert, with Serazin and two others, remained on the poop-deck, where they continued to walk, apparently devoid of any peculiar interest or anxiety in the scene. Madgett alone betrayed agitation at this moment: his pale face was paler than ever, and there seemed to me a kind of studious care in the way he covered himself up with his cloak, so that not a vestige of his uniform could be seen. The boat now came close under our lee, and Conolly being ordered to challenge her in English, the collector, standing up in the stern, touched his hat, and announced his rank. The gangway-ladder was immediately lowered, and three gentlemen ascended the ship's side and walked aft to the poop. I was standing near the bulwark at the time, watching the scene with intense interest. As General Humbert stood a little in advance of the rest, the collector, probably taking him for the captain, addressed him with some courteous expression of welcome, and was proceeding to speak of the weather, when the general gently stopped him by asking if he spoke French. I shall never forget the terror of face that question evoked. At first, looking at his two companions, the collector turned his eyes to the gaff, where the English flag was flying; but still unable to utter a word, he stood like one entranced. "You have been asked if you can speak French, sir?" said Conolly, at a sign from the general. "No--very little--very badly--not at all; but isn't this--am I not on board of--" "Can none of them speak French?" said Humbert, shortly. "Yes, sir," said a young man on the collector's right; "I can make myself intelligible in that language, although no great proficient." "Who are you, monsieur?--are you a civilian?" asked Humbert. "Yes, sir. I am the son of the Bishop of Killala, and this young gentleman is my brother." "What is the amount of the force in this neighborhood?" "You will pardon me, sir," said the youth, "if I ask, first, who it is puts this question, and under what circumstances I am expected to answer it?" "All frank and open, sir," said Humbert, good-humoredly. "I'm the General Humbert, commanding the advanced guard for the liberation of Ireland--so much for your first question. As to your second one, I believe that if you have any concern for yourself, or those belonging to you, you will find that nothing will serve your interest so much as truth and plain dealing." "Fortunately, then, for me," said the youth, laughing, "I can not betray my king's cause, for I know nothing, nothing whatever, about the movement of troops. I seldom go ten miles from home, and have not been even at Ballina since last winter." "Why so cautious about your information, then, sir," broke in Serazin, roughly, "since you have none to give?" "Because I had some to receive, sir; and was curious to know where I was standing," said the young man, boldly.