Never, since she came to Fernando Noronha to rejoin her convict husband, had she been addressed so politely by any member of the military caste.

The manners of the officers of the detachment at Fort San Antonio were not to be compared with those of Captain San Benavides.

Her heart went out to him.
"We must try to help you, Senhor Capitano," she said.

"If the others are dead or taken, you may not be missed." He threw out his hands in an eloquent gesture.

Life or death was a matter of complete indifference to him, it implied.
"We shall know in the morning," he said.