"
"I am perfectly aware of it," I said. "Am I to go in fetters?"
"No," he replied, with a smile. "I have no instructions on the
subject, but I will take it upon myself to free you from them, - even
for the sake of that excellently writ letter."
"Is not this gentleman to go too?" I asked.
He shook his head. "I have no orders to that effect."
While the men who were with him removed the irons from my
wrists and ankles he stood in silence, regarding me with a scrutiny
so close that it would have been offensive had I been in a position
to take offense. When they had finished I turned and held Jeremy's
hand in mine for an instant, then followed the new-comer to the
ladder and out of the hold; the two men coming after us, and
resolving themselves above into a guard. As we traversed the main
deck we came upon Diccon, busy with two or three others about
the ports. He saw me, and, dropping the bar that he held, started
forward, to be plucked back by an angry arm. The men who
guarded me pushed in between us, and there was no word spoken
by either. I walked on, the gentleman at my side, and presently
came to an open port, and saw, with an intake of my breath, the
sunshine, a dark blue heaven flecked with white, and a quiet
ocean. My companion glanced at me keenly.
"Doubtless it seems fair enough, after that Cimmerian darkness
below," he remarked.
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