“Bear my regrets to her; but, as she chose to remain, I prefer to indulge her for the present; and the captain of the cutter shall decide whether he desires her presence,” answered the officer, as the boat passed out of hearing distance. “I was not aware that the lady was Mrs. Simpson,” said Mr. Graves to his prisoner. “This is an outrage; and I think I have friends enough at Washington to see justice done to me,” said the cashier, who found it necessary to say something to keep his courage up, and to preserve appearances. “I certainly hope you will have justice done to you; but I am afraid it is the very thing you do not want,” answered the officer. “I thought you said you knew nothing whatever about the matter; and yet you treat me as though I were a fugitive from justice,” replied Mr. Simpson. “I do not know with what you are charged, or even that you are charged with any thing: I only know that you concealed yourself in the ship, and it cost half an hour to find you. I have generally noticed that people who have done nothing wrong do not hide from any one; and, on the other hand, I have observed that those who are guilty are the ones who hide. That is really all I know about it.” The defaulter said nothing more; but he did a deal of heavy thinking while the boat was going to the cutter. He could not imagine how his secret had come into the possession of the captain of the cutter. He had taken pains to cover all his tracks: he had bribed every man in the yacht, and he was confident that none of them had betrayed him. It was possible that the cutter had witnessed his removal to the ship; and he could explain his misfortune in no other way. But he had not many minutes to think, for the boat was soon alongside the cutter. Mr. Simpson was conducted to the deck of the steamer, where Capt. Singleton stood waiting for him. Neither Wade nor Lon was on deck, for the captain had required them to stay in the cabin till he had seen the defaulter. “How many passengers did you find in the ship, Mr. Graves?” asked the captain. “Only this gentleman and his wife, besides the captain’s wife. This is Mr. John Simpson. His wife declined to come, unless I brought her by force, which I did not care to do without further orders,” answered Mr. Graves. “After I had started to return, the lady changed her mind, and wished to come with her husband.” “I do not desire her presence. I directed you to bring all the passengers, so that I might be sure to get the right one,” added the captain, as he turned to his prisoner. “Take a seat, Mr. Simpson;” and he placed a camp-stool for him. “What is your business with me, captain?” demanded Mr. Simpson, mustering up all the courage he could assume. “I am somewhat curious to know who and what you are; and you will oblige me by satisfying my curiosity,” said the captain, in the gentlest of tones.