OR THE DESERT ISLAND. 161

sense, sheer nonsense, Saint Ague; they ought to know
that I alone am to blame for all that.”

“ Perhaps so,” rejoined Saint Ague: “so far as you two
only were concerned in the matter, I cannot but congra-
tulate you most heartily for having, during your residence
at the island, which you have suitably named the Isle of
Reformation, made up all your differences so manfully and
amicably; but the other officers are not obliged to forget
or forgive the injuries done them, merely because you two
are reconciled to each other.”

“But when they have learned his noble conduct to-
wards me,” said the count, “they cannot but treat him
with regard.” So saying he tock Philip’s arm, and ad-
vancing with him towards a group of officers who had
retired aside :

“Gentlemen,” said he to them, “permit me to present
to you my friend Mr Merville, whose misconduct on his
- first entrance into the service must be attributed to my
injustice to him. It is publicly known that he often of-
fended many of you; but I trust that you will find reason
to forget the faults of the persecuted sailor in the merits of
the midshipman, a station to which our noble captain has
promoted him, as a recompense for the valour he displayed
‘in the last engagement we had with the enemy. I need