I laid my head on the pillow, and O'Brien having left off talking, I was soon in a comfortable sleep.

In an hour I was awakened by the return of the officer, who was accompanied by the surgeon.

The officer addressed O'Brien in French who shook his head as before.
"Why don't you answer, O'Brien," said I, "since you understand him ?" "Peter, recollect that I cannot speak a word of their lingo; then I shall know what they say before us, and they won't mind what they say, supposing I do not understand them." "But is that honest, O'Brien ?" "Is it honest you mean?
If I had a five-pound note in my pocket, and don't choose to show it to every fellow that I meet--is that dishonest ?" "To be sure it's not." "And a'n't that what the lawyers call a case in pint ?" "Well," replied I, "if you wish it, I shall of course say nothing; but I think that I should tell them, especially as they are so kind to us." During this conversation, the officer occasionally spoke to the surgeon, at the same time eyeing us, I thought, very hard.

Two other persons then came into the room; one of them addressed O'Brien in very bad English, saying, that he was interpreter, and would beg him to answer a few questions.

He then inquired the name of our ship, number of guns, and how long we had been cruising.