Part 18 (1/2)
”To you, at all events, my grat.i.tude is due,” returned Ada. ”And I would lay myself under a still further obligation, by asking you to tell me what s.h.i.+p I am on board, how I came here, and to where I am being conveyed?”
The Italian hesitated, as if he was framing an answer, which Ada remarked to herself. At last he replied,--”Lady, your first question I may answer. You are on board a man-of-war belonging to the patriot Greeks, who are struggling for their liberty against the infidel Turks; and you are in possession of the commander's cabin. How you came here I am less able to inform you, and thus much only, further, I know, that we are sailing for one of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, where you will be landed, and placed with those who will tend you carefully.
Lady, I regret that I cannot tell you more.”
The suspicions of Ada were much increased on hearing these words.
”I believe that you, signor, would not willingly deceive me,” she observed. ”The very tone of your voice forbids the supposition. But tell me, as the Greek patriots are on friendly terms with the English, should I desire to be placed on board a British s.h.i.+p-of-war, of which I believe there are several in these seas, would not your commander comply with my wishes?”
”The commander of this s.h.i.+p is anxious to do all he can to gratify you, lady; but to do as you wish may not be in his power.”
”Signor,” said Ada, glancing at his features. ”I have heard that voice before. You speak Italian well; but so do many Greeks. Tell me, are you the commander of this s.h.i.+p?”
”Lady, I am not,” returned the young man emphatically. ”I am but acting as the surgeon of the s.h.i.+p, to soothe the anguish of those who are wounded. I have no authority on board.”
”Then why does not the commander visit me?” said Ada, ”I would see him and urge my request to be placed under the protection of the British flag. Surely he would not refuse to do so.”
”Oh, lady, do not ask to see him,” exclaimed the Italian, forgetting his cold reserve and previous caution. ”You know not what misfortune you may bring on yourself by so doing. He believes that you are now sick, almost to death, and that your only chance of restoration to health is rest and quiet on sh.o.r.e.”
”You speak in enigmas,” said Ada, quickly taking alarm. ”Surely the commander of a man-of-war would not detain an English lady against her will; and my having recovered would make him still more anxious to enable me to return to my friends.”
The Italian stood for some minutes lost in thought.
”You know not lady how you came to be on board this vessel,” he said.
”You now compel me to tell you. Your attendant informs me that the s.h.i.+p in which you sailed from Malta was attacked by a corsair, and captured; but that you and she were the only persons conveyed on board the pirate vessel; and that you, having fainted during the engagement, were unconscious of all that took place. It appears that for a short time only you remained on board the pirate, still in a happy state of unconsciousness of the misfortune which had befallen you, when we caught sight of the s.h.i.+p, chased, and captured her. You and your attendant were found on board, respectfully treated, and in possession of the chief cabin. This was a suspicious circ.u.mstance, for who could tell that you were not willingly on board.”
”Ah!” exclaimed Ada, almost smiling at the atrocious supposition.
”Surely no one could believe that I was acting in consort with pirates?”
”Lady, I do not; but all may not so readily believe the truth,” returned the Italian.
”But am I and my innocent attendant then to be punished as pirates,”
asked Ada, with a hysterical laugh.
”Scarcely so, lady; but you may be required to give evidence against them,” returned the Italian.
”I can give no evidence against them,” said Ada; ”for, as you have been informed, I have been deprived of consciousness since I was found on board the English brig.”
”The observation you make, lady, is much in your favour,” remarked the Italian in a low tone.
”Then I am to understand,” continued Ada, not noticing it, ”that I am, with an attendant, a prisoner in this cabin.”
”So I am compelled to confess, with much regret, is the case,” replied the surgeon.
”Then I understand it all,” she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, compressing her lips, and fixing her eyes upon the young man, who had advanced a few paces to the after part of the cabin. ”From man I can expect no aid,--Heaven will not desert me.”
”Lady, G.o.d never deserts those who trust in him,” he replied, about to quit the cabin.
”Stay,” exclaimed Ada. ”Those features, too, I have beheld before.
Tell me where it was I saw you?”