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36 THE king's yard
" But why
? What in the name of all that's
wonderful do you
— "
" Patience for a moment, sir, if
you please.
The lieutenant is anxious to get back to his boat."
Captain Bagshott then handed over his receipt, the
naval officer wished his late prisoner a cordial goodbye,
which was gracefully returned, and Lieutenant
Stockleigh and the sailor walked off, leaving the
American alone with the old Governor, who assumed
his best quarter-deck manner, and said :
" Now, sir, if
you will allow me, I will explain the
situation to you as far as my instructions permit me
to do so. The authorities here are better informed
than you suppose, and they, having certain information
regarding the proceedings of the American rebels
in France, gave instructions to arrest you on your
arrival in this port. My orders are that you
are to
be treated with every consideration consistent with
your safe keeping. You are not to be confined with
the rabble we have here, but are to have a separate
apartment and the liberty of the castle grounds in
charge of a guard, but you are not to be allowed to
communicate with anyone."
" But what the devil do they really charge me
with ? and by what infamous rascally trickery do
they pretend that I am a deserter ? You must know
that I am not one."