"
"Exactly so."
"Sir! Do you mean to say that you _know_ she was not lost?"
"Precisely so."
"By ----! Sir, you have been making a merit of this very thing."
"True, but policy, policy! You will recollect you were not in a
particularly amiable mood when I had the honor to introduce myself this
morning. It was necessary to conciliate you, and my plan succeeded
admirably. Besides, I blowed up the steamer with the intention of
serving you, and I ought to have the credit of my good intentions!"
"And a pretty mess you have made of it!"
"Did the best that could be done, under the circumstances."
"The game is up! I may as well hang myself, at once."
"The very worst thing you could possibly do. A long life of happiness
and usefulness is yet before you, provided you follow my advice."
"Your advice!" sneered Jaspar.
"I shall have the pleasure of convincing you that my advice will be the
best that could possibly be given to a man in your condition."
"The girl is alive, is she?" muttered Jaspar, heedless of the smooth
words of his companion.
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