The Prince was discharged from quarantine in season to attend the auction. The agent expected no competition in the bidding. His first bid was four thousand pounds; then the Prince added another thousand, and continued to increase upon the agent till the sum of thirteen thousand pounds was reached; and then the first bidder had a cold sweat, for his instructions allowed him to bid no more. The steamer was struck off to the Prince for “a thousand better.” The agent was confounded, and the Prince was in excellent humor. He had to pay only a half of the purchase-money, for the other half belonged to the salvors. But the agent had new instructions when it was too late; and he offered the Prince another thousand, and then two and three, for his bargain, but the buyer declined to sell. “What do you want of that steamer?” asked Mrs. Frisbone, when he told her what he had done. “I think we will all go to Madeira in her,” replied Mr. Frisbone, laughing. “I have been bothered to know what to do with the ship’s company of the steamer; and this settles the question. Besides, the vessel is worth more than I pay for her.” The Prince hastened on board of the Ville d’Angers to inform the officers what he had done, and to have her prepared for the voyage to Funchal. Everybody on board was pleased with the result of the Prince’s operations, unless it was the prisoners in their state-rooms. The steamer was immediately hauled into the dock, her cargo taken out of her, for that had been sold “on account of whom it might concern,” and the proceeds had added over eight hundred pounds to the result of the expedition to England. Then she ran up to Southampton, where she coaled and took in a supply of provisions on the most liberal scale. By the morning of the 21st, she was ready to sail; and not a moment was lost in getting under way. The French and Italian firemen had been discharged, and sent home by the agent of the owners. Another set was employed for the voyage, and two young English engineers were added to the force in the engine-room. In fact, the vessel was fitted out as if she were to go around the world. She had been ballasted so as to put her into the best sailing-trim when the coal in her bunkers should be reduced. The article in the newspaper had drawn considerable attention to the steamer; and when she sailed there was quite a crowd to witness her departure. “Where are you bound, captain?” asked a young man, as O’Hara was about to get into the boat which was waiting for him. “To Funchal, in the island of Madeira,” replied the young captain, hardly looking at the inquirer; for he had been tormented with questions ever since he put his foot on the shore. The person who asked the question was not more than twenty-two years of age, and was accompanied by another young man about his own age. Both of them were dressed in travelling suits of gray; and they appeared to belong to the better class of English people.