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 "And I should be glad to discover," cried Riley, "why she understands English on and off at her pleasure, now so ready, and now answering one never a word."

The old sea officer, touching his hat as he addressed her, said, "For my part, Madam, I hope the compliment you make our country in coming to it, is that of preferring good people to bad; in which case every Englishman should honour and welcome you."

"And I hope," cried Harleigh, while the stranger seemed hesitating how to answer, "that this patriotic benevolence is comprehended; if not, I will attempt a translation."

"I speak French so indifferently, which, however, I don't much mind," cried the Admiral, "that I am afraid the gentlewoman would hardly understand me, or else I would translate for myself."

The stranger now, with a strong expression of gratitude, replied in English,