"Why yes," the pirate replied, "I fancy it would prove useful." "Pray do not put yourself out of the way," said the stranger, "I will procure one." With the greatest possible coolness, he took off the feather that adorned his hat, and stuck it in the ground, when it suddenly burst into a flame, just as if it had been a torch. The Count was astounded at this marvel, but as, after all, he was a good Christian, and he was beginning to distrust his companion considerably, he mechanically prepared to cross himself. But the stranger eagerly caught hold of his arm. "Let us lose no time, Excellency," he said. And drawing a roll of parchment from under his cloak he unrolled and laid it before the pirate, who was in extasies at the magnificent plan he saw. "What do you, think of that, Excellency?" the architect said, in a sweet, bitter voice. "Sublime!" he exclaimed, transported with admiration. "You are a judge," the other answered, "this is what I propose doing." And in his turn he began entering into the most minute details, to which the old sailor listened with gaping mouth and flashing eyes, never leaving off looking at the splendid fortress drawn on the parchment. When the architect ceased speaking, the pirate was so confounded by all he had heard, that he remained for a moment stunned, and tried in vain to restore the regular flow of his thoughts. "Well," he at last asked with a certain shade of incredulity, which involuntarily betrayed itself in his voice, "do you fancy yourself capable of carrying out such a masterpiece?" "Nothing is easier." "But we have no building stones." "I will find them." "I have no masons." "I will procure them." "But iron, wood--in a word, all the articles necessary for such a building, how to procure them?" "I will take it on myself." "But it will cost me a tremendous sum," said the Count, pressingly, for fear was more and more overpowering him. "Pooh!" the stranger said, carelessly, and thrusting out his lower lip in disdain, "less than nothing, a trifle." "And how long will you require to finish my fortress as it stands on the parchment?" "Wait," the other said, calculating on his fingers, and scratching his forehead like a man who is seeking the solution of a difficult problem; "it is about nine o'clock, I think?" "About," the Count said, not at all understanding the stranger's meaning. "Well! By sunrise all will be ready, and you can take possession of your new residence." "What, why, you must be the demon!" the Count exclaimed in utter stupefaction. The stranger rose, bowed to the pirate courteously, and answered him with great politeness and a most gentlemanly manner. "In person, Excellency. On my honour," he added, "I never could leave a worthy man in a difficulty. I was affected by your perplexity, and resolved to come to your aid." "You are most kind," the old sailor muttered mechanically, not knowing what he was saying. "That is my motive," said the other, with a modest bow.