That feeling kept increasing until it become a passion with me.

Then it was my misfortune to fall in love.

Yes, love was a misfortune to me.

I had courted and was engaged to the daughter of a rich old man who had made all his money in the West Indies, and still had plantations there.
"We were to be married on my return, after a voyage to North America.
But I returned to find her married to a young officer who had sailed companion with me on board man-a-war, and who had professed great friendship for me only to deceive me.

He had professed to be my friend and confident; and it was this that carried the knife of disappointment to my very heart.