“There were many other people deceived in times past by the exact resemblance between the two men! It was a source of continual embarrassment to the Angleseas of Anglewood. The father of Angus Anglesea procured for young Stukely a midshipman’s warrant, and got him sent off to one of our most remote naval stations, to get him out of the way and get rid of him. He went on pretty well for a while. And he received much indulgence, too, for the sake of the benefactor behind him But rectitude was not the forte of Byrne Stukely, and in the end he disgraced his patron and was dismissed the service.” “But how came he in the army?” inquired Wynnette. “He was never in the army. He was no more a colonel than he was an Anglesea. Nor more a soldier than he was a gentleman. He was in the navy, as I said, and was kicked out of it. Lastly, he has turned up in the slave trade and the general piracy line of business as Capt. Silver.” “Capt. Silver!” echoed every voice, except that of Abel Force. “Yes, my darlings—Capt. Silver, of the _Argente_. Ostensibly blockade runner only. Subject only to the laws of war—to be held only as a prisoner of war. But really a slaver and a pirate, likely to be tried for his life and hanged for his crimes by this government; or if he should chance to escape conviction and execution here, where the punishment of crime is so very uncertain, still sure to be claimed by the British Government, under the extradition act, and hanged by us, who, you know, will stand no nonsense from slavers and pirates. But now, my darlings, let us leave the subject of the villain and turn to something pleasanter. Odalite, my dear, I congratulate you on your escape. And I hope, when we go down to the _Argente_ this afternoon, we shall be able to bring Lieut. Force back with us.” “Heaven grant it!” breathed Odalite, in a low and fervent voice. “Where is Capt. Grandiere?” inquired Mrs. Force. “He has gone to look up his mate, young Bayard,” replied Mr. Force. “Oh, I hope he will bring Roland back with him!” sighed Rosemary, who was the frankest little creature in the world. “I hope he may,” said Mr. Force. “Come! Let us go down to dinner,” suggested the earl. CHAPTER XVI THE OLD SKIPPER’S DESPAIR Meanwhile, Capt. Grandiere, having obtained his pass, got into a crowded street car, en route for the Old Capitol prison. After toiling up the long hill on the north side of the Capitol grounds, the car turned into East Capitol Street. There the old skipper got off and inquired his way to the “Old Capitol”—a large pile of brick buildings, looking not unlike a warehouse, but which in its time, before the present beautiful edifice had been raised, was used for the councils of the National Congress, and now was turned into a military prison.