“What did they consist of?” inquired Monsieur de Fontanges.

“A large trunk, containing the wearing apparel of a female and a child:  there were also several orders of knighthood, and some jewels; but I hardly know what they were, as it is some time since I have looked at them.”

“How strange that you could find no clue to discover the names of the parties!”

“There were French letters,” replied Newton, “which I could not read; they were only signed by initials, which did not correspond with the marks on the linen belonging to the lady, although the surname might have been the same as that of the child.”

“Do you recollect the initials?”

“Perfectly well:  the marks on the lady’s apparel were L.C., that on the linen of the infant J.F.”

“Mon Dieu! mon Dieu!” cried Monsieur de Fontanges; “then it may indeed have been the apparel of the Marquise de Fontanges.  The linen must have been some marked with her maiden name, which was Louise de Colmar.  The child was christened Julie de Fontanges, after her grandmother.  My poor brother had intended to take his passage home in the same vessel, his successor being hourly expected; but the frigate in which the new governor had embarked was taken by an English squadron, and my brother was forced to remain here.”

“Then the property must undoubtedly belong to the marquis,” replied Newton:  “I only wish I could have been able to assure him that his wife and child were equally safe; but that I am afraid is impossible, as there can be no doubt but that they were all lost.  Do you mean to communicate what I have told you to the marquis?”

“By no means:  it will only tear open a wound which has but partially healed.  If you will send me all the particulars when you return I shall feel much obliged, not that the effects are of any consequence.  The marquise and her child are undoubtedly lost; and it could be no consolation to my brother to ascertain that a trunk of their effects had been saved.”

Here the conversation dropped, and was never again renewed.

Newton was heartily welcomed again at Lieu Desire, where he remained three weeks, when a note from the governor informed him that a cartel was about to sail.

It was with mutual pain that Newton and his kind friends took their farewell of each other.  In this instance M. de Fontanges did not accompany him to Basse Terre, but bade him adieu at his own door.  Newton, soon after he was on the road, perceived that M. de Fontanges had acted from a motive of delicacy, that he might not receive the thanks of Newton for two valises, well furnished, which overtook Newton about a quarter of a mile from the plantation, slung on each side of a horse, under the guidance of a little negro, perched on the middle.  Newton made his acknowledgments to the governor for his kind consideration, then embarked on board of the Marie Therese schooner, and in three days he once more found himself on shore in an English colony; with which piece of information I conclude this chapter.