"Oh, go," said she, holding out her hand, "for he deserves all the thanks in the world for saving you for me." She blushed as she saw how I lit up at the words, but left her hand in mine as I raised it to my lips. "Farewell, my dear Barry," said she. "Heaven bless you, and bring you safely back!" All the world then seemed turned to brightness, and I stepped out like a man who treads on air. But at the door I remembered myself enough to return and seek Biddy in her kitchen. "Biddy," said I, "tell me one thing, as you will answer for it at the last day--which of us two, Tim or I, is the son of Mike Gallagher, and which is the son of Terence Gorman?" She turned very white and sank into a chair. But I had no time to parley, and I urged her to speak. "As I hope for salvation," said she, and her breath came hard and her bosom heaved fast, "the one of you that has the mole between his shoulder-blades is the Gorman's boy." "It is Tim then," I exclaimed, and hastened to my horse. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. DUTCH JUSTICE. I should be no better than a hypocrite were I to deny that, as I rode my weary, borrowed nag back that morning along the Delft road, there shot in and out of the turmoil of my feelings a sharp pang of disappointment. It was no disloyalty to Tim; it was no greediness for name and wealth. It was but the dashing of a passing hope that I might find myself, after all, a gentleman, and so prove worthy to be regarded by Miss Kit as something more than a trusty servant. As a Gorman, and her cousin, I might claim her with the best of her suitors. As the son of Mike Gallagher, boatman and smuggler, myself but a plain boatswain, how durst I suppose, for all her kindness and gentleness, she could comprehend me in the ranks of her equals? Yet to serve her was something--to have snatched her from the scoundrel Martin, and set her in a safe place, was some little triumph to set against the disappointment of Biddy's news; and as I jogged Delft-ward that morning, I fell to considering how best I could help her to her home and Tim into his estate. More people were about now than when I rode last, and some opened their eyes to see a sailor on horseback. But I answered no questions and halted for no parleys. At Delft I hoped to find a road round outside the town, fearing lest I might encounter the owners of the nag on the streets. But I found no way except that straight through the midst of the town. As I crossed the market-place two soldiers accosted me and ordered me to dismount and give an account of myself. As they spoke only Dutch, and I knew none of the language, it was hard for us to understand one another. But the feel of their muzzles on my ears convinced me I had better obey; and abandoning the luckless animal, I was conducted to the guard- house and there locked up until business hours. I demanded, in the best French I could muster, on what charge I was thus laid by the heels.