“Thank Heaven!” exclaimed Abel Force, earnestly. “There is now nothing to prevent the happiness of my dear Odalite and Leonidas.” “I don’t know what you are both talking about, I am sure,” complained the old skipper. “No, you do not know our family history for the last six years, Capt. Grandiere, or the trouble we have suffered through that man of whom we have been speaking; but you shall know all at our earliest convenience.” “But Roland! Oh, Roland! What will become of my boy?” groaned the captain. “Can you not prove that he was taken prisoner by the pirate?” demanded Mr. Force. “Yes; but I cannot prove that he did not join the pirates, as Silver told me that he meant to do. And here he is under a false name—Craven Cloud, first officer to the pirate captain! It looks black! I wish I had never lived to see this day!” groaned the captain. After they had waited about half an hour in the hope of seeing Le come out of the commissioner’s office, Mr. Force went and spoke to the messenger at the door. “Do you know whether Lieut. Force, who brought the prize ship with the prisoners this morning, is now with the commissioner?” “No, sir; he is not. He came with the prisoners this morning and made his report, and left them, and then went up to the navy department,” replied the man. “Thank you! That will do! Come, Enderby! Come, Grandiere! We may as well return to the hotel! We shall not be likely to find Le! We must wait until he comes to us, I suppose! If he only knew what good news waits him he would hurry!” “If he only knew that we were in the city, or where to find us! But he does not, you see,” said the earl. “Wait one moment,” exclaimed the captain. “I must speak to that man before we go. Can you tell me where those two prisoners have been sent?” “To the Old Capitol prison?” replied the messenger. “Can I get to see them?” “Only by a permit.” “Go on, Force! You and the earl! I am going to see my dear boy! Oh, Heaven! who shall tell poor Rosemary?” CHAPTER XV LEONIDAS “What do you think of this case of young Bayard?” inquired the earl, as the two gentlemen drove back to the hotel. “I cannot think! I have never in my life felt so amazed, so confused, and so uncertain! The sudden meeting of Anglesea——” “Stukely, my dear friend! Stukely!” interrupted the earl. “Stukely, then! the man we have known as Anglesea—and now known as the blockade runner, slaver and pirate—has—demoralized my mental faculties!” exclaimed Abel Force. “Do you believe Bayard to be a voluntary confederate of the pirate?” “No! no! If you put the question in that way, I say no! I do not believe it!” “The young man was a protégé of yours, I have heard.” “Yes.” “Yet you do not know his parentage, or what traits of character he may have inherited, which may have been kept down by circumstances, and only wanted opportunity to spring into life and activity.”