"You are improving vastly," said the lady, with a bright and fascinating smile. "We shall, I see, be very good friends, indeed. But the fact that we shall have to pass nearly, if not quite two weeks together, requires that you should have for me some less formal title than `madam.' Call me, hereafter, Ada." "You still leave me in doubt, madam. I cannot take the liberty of addressing you familiarly by your Christian name." The lady seemed for a moment to be in thought. "Know me then," she at length said, "as Miss Ada Revere." "Your face is strangely familiar to me," said John. "You saw me yesterday morning," answered the lady, with a sad smile, "at the Spout on Saint Leonard's Creek. You remember the lad who took charge of your and Captain Marston's notes and horses?" Young Coe's countenance expressed much surprise and interest. But Miss Revere gave him no opportunity to speak. "But I have known you much longer ago than that," she continued, after making but little pause--"long before either of us knew that there was evil or deceit in the world. I may, perhaps, by-and-bye tell you my sad history,"--an expression of intense pain passed over the beautiful face--"this is no time for such a narrative. Your own position requires consideration and action; and our first thoughts must be given to that." "Can you explain to me," asked John, "why I was captured, and why I am held as a prisoner?" "Yes," answered the lady; "and I am authorised to give you the information which you ask. I was not at the store at Drum Point the night before last, when you were seen by Captain Vance to look in at the window while certain goods were being conveyed to their secret depository; but I know all that took place. Ruin to Mr Ashleigh, and great injury to all connected with the brig would have been the certain result of your making publicly known what you had discovered. The first thought was to pursue and capture you at once; and the attempt to do so was made. That attempt was, as you know, a failure. The proposition was then made, as you were known to more than one of the brig's company, to seize you at once at your father's house. This proposition was made by one whom I hate, a man the enormity of whose villainy I have no words to express; I have no doubt that, had his proposal been acceded to, you would have been killed instead of captured. Captain Marston saved you from such a fate; he thought you might be enticed from your home, and even induced to join the ship's company. He has a great affection for you, as an old schoolmate and friend; he has told me, with his own lips, that there is no living man for whom he has greater regard than for yourself."