‘Yes,’ said Evan, ‘one of them did.  She told me.’

‘She told you?  And you—­what did you do?’

‘Laughed at him with her, to be sure.’

’Laughed at him!  She told you, and you helped her to laugh at love!  Have you no perceptions?  Why did she tell you?’

‘Because she thought him such a fool, I suppose.’

‘You never will know a woman,’ said the Countess, with contempt.

Much of his worldly sister at a time was more than Evan could bear.  Accustomed to the symptoms of restiveness, she finished her discourse, enjoyed a quiet parade up and down under the gaze of the lieutenant, and could find leisure to note whether she at all struck the inferior seamen, even while her mind was absorbed by the multiform troubles and anxieties for which she took such innocent indemnification.

The appearance of the Hon. Melville Jocelyn on deck, and without his wife, recalled her to business.  It is a peculiarity of female diplomatists that they fear none save their own sex.  Men they regard as their natural prey:  in women they see rival hunters using their own weapons.  The Countess smiled a slowly-kindling smile up to him, set her brother adrift, and delicately linked herself to Evan’s benefactor.

‘I have been thinking,’ she said, ’knowing your kind and most considerate attentions, that we may compromise you in England.’

He at once assured her he hoped not, he thought not at all.

‘The idea is due to my brother,’ she went on; ’for I—­women know so little!—­and most guiltlessly should we have done so.  My brother perhaps does not think of us foremost; but his argument I can distinguish.  I can see, that were you openly to plead Silva’s cause, you might bring yourself into odium, Mr. Jocelyn; and heaven knows I would not that!  May I then ask, that in England we may be simply upon the same footing of private friendship?’

The diplomatist looked into her uplifted visage, that had all the sugary sparkles of a crystallized preserved fruit of the Portugal clime, and observed, confidentially, that, with every willingness in the world to serve her, he did think it would possibly be better, for a time, to be upon that footing, apart from political considerations.

‘I was very sure my brother would apprehend your views,’ said the Countess.  ’He, poor boy! his career is closed.  He must sink into a different sphere.  He will greatly miss the intercourse with you and your sweet family.’

Further relieved, the diplomatist delivered a high opinion of the young gentleman, his abilities, and his conduct, and trusted he should see him frequently.

By an apparent sacrifice, the lady thus obtained what she wanted.

Near the hour speculated on by the diplomatist, the papers came on board, and he, unaware how he had been manoeuvred for lack of a wife at his elbow, was quickly engaged in appeasing the great British hunger for news; second only to that for beef, it seems, and equally acceptable salted when it cannot be had fresh.