"I judge by this," said Captain Acton, addressing the Admiral, "that my sealed orders"--he smiled sarcastically, and the Admiral listened with a frown--"have not yet been read to the crew by Mr Lawrence." "Where is the _Aurora_ going?" enquired Lucy. "We are pursuing the _Minorca_," answered Captain Acton. She looked down upon the table with a grave face. "She is not far distant," she said, speaking as though in soliloquy. "It is only three days ago that I was on board of her. This swift vessel is certain to overtake her. And what then will happen?" And as she said this she suddenly lifted her eyes half-veiled, dark, and beaming to her father's face. "The Admiral and I," answered Captain Acton, talking as though slightly embarrassed, though moved by other feelings, "consider that we cannot do better than remove Mr Lawrence into this ship, and carry him to England." "And what after?" enquired Lucy, observing that her father paused with an expressive look at Sir William, "I mean what after as regards Mr Lawrence?" "You do not wish him to be hanged for piracy, even if abduction be not a hanging matter," said Captain Acton with a smile in his eyes as he met the Admiral's. The girl shuddered. "I know they hang for piracy!" she exclaimed. "It is what must happen if you convey him to England." "He must be prosecuted before they can hang him," said Captain Acton, whilst the Admiral's regard was fastened upon Lucy's face with such tokens of affectionate gratitude and surprise which rose to a passion of delight as made the worthy, poor old man's jolly, weather-scored, truly British countenance moving to behold. "And who is to prosecute him? I alone am the sufferer. I alone can prosecute. Am I likely to do so? Am I the man to bring my friend's son to the gallows?" "No, sir, no!" cried the Admiral in a deep, trembling voice. "But though you do not prosecute him, sir," said Lucy, "might not his story become known so that he might be arrested for piracy, and charged and convicted on the evidence of his crew?" "You are a Portia," said Captain Acton. "She reasons exquisitely well!" exclaimed the Admiral, slowly and dolefully wagging his head. "We propose to provide against all that your fears picture, my dear," said Captain Acton, who could no longer doubt that Aunt Caroline was right, and that there had been, and that there still lived, a deep secret liking or love for Mr Lawrence in Lucy, which had not suffered but rather gained by his rascality, "by landing Mr Lawrence at an English port where he is unknown, where habited in the garb of a common merchant sailor he will seek, and of course obtain, employment before the mast, and sail away clear of all dangerous consequences of his conduct."