“It don’t prove it; but I should be willing to bet a hat she was not on board when I visited your ship last time,” said the officer, with a laugh. “But I am not looking for your wife; and I shall not molest her in any way. The next room is locked; and my orders are to bring any passengers except your wife on board of the cutter. I must know who is in that room.” “Well, sir, my wife’s sister is in that room,” added the captain. “And who else?” “No one else,” answered the captain, as he knocked on the door. It was opened by Mrs. Wallgood. She stepped out into the cabin, looking as disdainfully at the officer as though she had been a tragedy queen. “I beg your pardon, madam,” said Mr. Graves. “I am sorry to disturb you, but the captain of the cutter desires your presence on board of the vessel.” “If the captain of the cutter wishes to see me, he must come where I am,” replied Mrs. Wallgood, as proudly as though she had been in her own house. “I beg to remind you that he is an officer of the United States,” added Mr. Graves. “I don’t care what he is. If I am to go on board of the cutter, I shall be taken there by force,” said the lady, with a queenly toss of the head. “Very well, madam; for the present, I will let the matter rest,” added Mr. Graves, touching his cap to the lady, and retiring from the cabin, though not till he had examined the interior of the state-room. “You will bear witness that I do not oppose you in the discharge of your duty,” said Capt. Crogick, following him to the deck. “Of course you do not: I find no fault with you,” replied Mr. Graves, who saw that the captain supposed he had given up the search. The officer called all his men to the deck, and commenced a search for the husband of the lady. He returned to the cabin with four of them, and the place was carefully examined. The officer was familiar with the business, and had been through the “Housatonic” once before. He started his men into the between-decks. “I was not aware that officers of the United States were in the habit of molesting lady passengers,” said Mrs. Wallgood, with a withering sneer. “They often do it, madam,” replied Mr. Graves. “I have met a lady with ten thousand dollars’ worth of smuggled goods on her person. When ladies engage in questionable transactions, they can hardly be excepted from interference by the officers of the customs.” “Do you charge me with smuggling?” demanded the lady. “Certainly not, madam: I charge you with nothing,” answered the officer, with a pleasant smile. “I only invited you to go on board of the cutter.” “But I will not go.” “Very well, madam: I shall simply inform the captain that you decline his invitation. I dare say that will be the end of the whole matter. I am sure he will not be so ungallant as to use any compulsion.” “Here he is!” shouted the old quarter-master, who was conducting the search between decks.