“_Peste!_ am I not ‘a son of the people,’ as the French would say? Should I not take to wife ‘a daughter of the people’? And, in one word, if I cannot get Barbara Brande to help me found a noble dynasty—why, then, the first Lord Dazzleright will also be the last of his illustrious line!” Lord Montressor arose and clapped his hand into the palm of his friend’s, saying cordially: “You are right! I did but try you! You are altogether right! And _she_ was also right in repelling your advances—for great reserve and firm repulsion are ever necessary as shield and lance for a woman in her strange position. But—barring your professional quibbling—you are worthy of her, and if I do not find a way of convincing her of that fact—and smoothing the path for your next overtures—why you may then set me down as an incompetent diplomatist, that is all.” “I thank you, Montressor. Well, that is just all I had to say to you for this evening. I will not keep you out of bed any longer, for you will have to rise early to be on board in time, as the vessel sails with the early tide. The sky promises fine weather for to-morrow,” said Dazzleright, going to the window and looking out. “Well, Heaven grant it! Good-night, my friend!” he exclaimed, returning and offering his hand. “Good-night, Dazzleright—but not good-bye,” answered Montressor, cordially pressing his offered hand. “Oh, no, no! certainly not! I shall meet you at St. Catherine’s Docks to-morrow morning, and say good-bye only on the deck of the Petrel. _Au revoir!_” “To our meeting!” CHAPTER XXX. CAPTAIN BARBARA’S SECOND VOYAGE. “O’er the glad waters of the dark-blue sea! Our thoughts as boundless and our souls as free! Far as the breeze can bear the billows’ foam, Survey our empire and behold our home! “Oh, who can tell, save one whose heart has tried, And danced in triumph o’er the waters wide, The exulting sense—the pulse’s maddening play, That thrills the wanderer of that trackless way.”—_Byron._ The next day was the fourteenth of February, and St. Valentine’s day, and of all the three hundred and sixty-five, the luckiest for lovers’ enterprise. The weather was as fine as it had promised to be, with a clear sky, a soft air, and light breeze from the south, heralding an early spring. Soon after sunrise, Sir Parke Morelle and Lord Montressor drove down to the docks, where they found Lord Dazzleright already awaiting them. Willful Brande was also in attendance, with the long-boat from the Petrel, to take the party to the vessel. After a general greeting and shaking of hands, they entered the long-boat and were rowed to the barque. The Petrel was, as always, neat and clean as a dainty maiden in her May-day dress. The few hands were all at their posts.