The first paroxysm of excitement, which looked to nothing short of hanging him from the steeple of the Old South Church, has given place to a conviction that the law had better be suffered to take its course, inasmuch as the unfortunate captain will surely drift among the breakers when he is tossed about on the sea of criminal jurisprudence. By the politeness of the colonial authorities, your correspondent obtained a permit to visit the noted son of Neptune at the Stone Prison. Sending in his card, he was at once invited into the small but comfortable apartment where the "scourge of the seas" is confined. Captain Kidd graciously extended his hand and bade your correspondent welcome. He is a short, broad-shouldered, powerfully-built man, of perhaps forty-five or forty-seven years of age. His hair, which is of dark chestnut and inclined to curl, was combed back from a medium forehead, and his face was sun-burnt into a rich mahogany hue. His cold gray eyes were deep set under thick brows that arched and met. His manner was courteous and dignified. He was dressed in light gray trowsers of perfect cut, patent-leather boots and a red-and-black spotted shirt, which displayed in its front a set of superb diamond studs. From under a Byron collar, _parfaitement_ starched, peeped the ends of a pale lilac scarf. A magnificent seal-ring decorated the third finger of his left hand. The day being excessively warm, his coat and vest had been laid aside. The room was plainly furnished. The table was littered with charts and papers, while on a stand were flowers sent to the prisoner by ladies of Boston. With the instinct of a true gentleman, he proceeded to put on his coat and vest, when the following conversation ensued: _Rep_. "Pray, captain, keep your coat off." _Capt. K._ "Thank you, if the same to you?" _Rep_. "Quite the same, I assure you. My visit is informal." (Handing him a cigar.) _Capt. K._ "Thanks: I take things coolly--waive ceremony. You know that's a habit I acquired at sea. You are a reporter?" _Rep_. "Yes, for the New York _Herald_. I call to ascertain your views of the situation. The public are anxious to hear your defence; and, if proper, I would like to ask you a few questions." _Capt. K._ "Certainly" (lighting his cigar). "You newspaper men haven't given me a fair show. There's a heap of lying going on about me. They are hounding me--that's a fact. I've got the evidence to prove that I'm an injured man. I have a clear conscience, that's one comfort." _Rep_. "A great comfort, no doubt. May I ask, captain, what particular falsehood has gained currency?" _Capt. K._ "Yes, sir. I will name one that is an unmitigated slander. They say that when I came across Moore and corrected him with a bucket for his impertinence, he was grinding a chisel. Now, sir, that is as false as ----!" _Rep_. "Indeed?" _Capt. K._ "Yes, sir, 'twas a screwdriver." _Rep_. "That shall be corrected, captain. Anything else?"