How the world is given to lying! I should never have known you.

You have changed amazingly since I left Saba six years ago, John." As this remark did not necessarily require any reply, I made none.

I now began to suspect that I was mistaken in the estimate of the character of my interrogator that he was neither the captain of a band of pirates nor the leader of a press-gang; and it being my first essay at carrying out a system of falsehood, I was terribly frightened at the dilemma in which I was involved.

I lost my presence of mind, and instead of frankly avowing the truth, as policy, as well as principle, would have dictated, I came to the conclusion to stick by my story, and carry out the deception to the end of the chapter.

But my mortification, my confusion, my chagrin, at being subjected to this unforeseen cross-examination, can hardly be conceived.