Norah at length persuaded Ellen, who had had but little rest on the previous night, to lie down and try to forget her anxiety in sleep. Soon afterwards Gerald came in. He had been rather indignant at not having been taken when the party visited the supposed Jersey privateer. "Had I seen Monsieur Thurot, I should have recognised him at once, for I marked him well when he came on board the _Ouzel Galley_; and I suspect, too, I should have detected his first lieutenant, in spite of his disguise," he exclaimed. "I wonder you did not find out that he was our mate Carnegan." "I did more than once fancy that I knew his voice, but it seemed so improbable that he should be on board a Jersey privateer that I banished the idea," answered Norah. "Now, Gerald, I want you to go and inquire after Mrs Massey and Owen; they may hear rumours of what has occurred, and will wish to know the truth. You will have time to go there and be back again before dark." Gerald, who was always good-natured and anxious to please Norah, undertook to go and deliver any message, written or oral, she might wish to send. She had already a note prepared for Owen, and with it Gerald set off. He found Owen much better, and ready, if the doctor would let him, to walk into Waterford to see Norah; but Mrs Massey was sure that he overrated his strength, and told Gerald that Norah must not expect him for some days. She was much interested at hearing the account which Gerald gave of the various occurrences of the last two days. "And can that unhappy man have really been captured? What a sad ending to a once respected family!" she exclaimed. "He cannot expect pardon. I bear him no ill-will, though his family has been the ruin of ours; and even now, in the hope that he may have time for repentance, I would thankfully hear that he had escaped rather than suffer the death his crimes deserve." "I should certainly not have suspected that the Carnegan we had as second mate on board the _Ouzel Galley_ could have been a murderer and pirate," said Gerald. "The men, however, were inclined to believe from the way he was saved that he was in league with the Evil One, and they will now be convinced that such was the case." "Satan would rather have let him drown," said Mrs Massey, "unless indeed he wished to employ him in some still more wicked deed. He undoubtedly mates use of those who willingly yield to him as his tools to work out his designs."