'There it is, sir,' said one of the midshipmen who was near him--for he had been there so often that the whole crew of the _Enterprise_ were aware of his attachment--'she has shown her flag of truce.' 'A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren,' replied Edward, laughing; 'how came you to know anything about it?' 'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to go on shore and wait for you to-night.' 'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind the headland.' The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended his commander on shore, the _Enterprise_ lying-to with a lantern at her peak. 'Once more, dearest Clara!' said Edward, as he threw off her long veil and pressed her in his arms. 'Yes, Edward, once more--but I am afraid only once more; for my maid, Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. I fear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), she has told all. She is better now.' 'Why should you imagine so, Clara?' 'Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill! Our religion is not like yours.' 'No, dear, it is not; but I will teach you a better.' 'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin! if Friar Ricardo should hear you! I think that Inez must have told him, for he fixes his dark eyes upon me so earnestly. Yesterday he observed to me that I had not confessed.' 'Tell him to mind his own business.' 'That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to him last night. I told him a great many things, and then he asked if that was all. His eyes went through me. I trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said it was.' 'I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara! and I confess my love but to you. Follow my plan, dearest!' 'I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love.' 'And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all.' 'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and oh! what a grievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy Virgin, pardon me! but I could not help it.' 'If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution.' 'Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they will look for me here, and we must not meet again--at least not in this place. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much farther off, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must be there.' 'It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will you not be afraid of the men in the boat, who might see you?' 'But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of, and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know it all, we should be lost--be separated for ever!' and Clara laid her forehead on Edward's shoulder, as her tears fell fast. 'There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in those orange-trees. Listen!'