Page:Lady Barbarity; a romance (IA ladybarbarityrom00snai).pdf/240

 cried: "That beats me!" and grew as thoughtful as an owl.

"Sir Sapience," says I, "I should value your opinion."

"Witchcraft, as I'm a Christian man," says he. "But that Captain is—well, that Captain is"

"He is, indeed," says I, with a significance not to be conveyed by a mere adjective or noun.

For an hour or more we broke our minds upon this problem. It was the deepest mystery, and of that provoking kind that makes one unhappy till one has solved it. As it would not profit us to keep the Corporal in durance, I judged it right to take measures to release him. But it was certain that as soon as he was at large my guilt would be published to his officer. Therefore I took boldness for my course, and stepped down straightway to the Captain. I carried the blue papers and the mutilated seal with me.

My enemy was alone. He received me with the courtesy that never failed him, while I, with the consideration that was habitual to me, asked politely of his leg.

"Captain," I decisively began, "an accident of a rather serious sort hath happened to that emissary of yours."

"My soul," cried the Captain, anxiously, "is that so? Pray tell me of it, madam."

"I will strike a bargain first," says I, coolly, and cast the papers down before his eyes.

I think I never saw a man so taken.