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s； and I doubt not that your lordship will see fair play。 Will any gentleman accept so civil an offer？ There sits a tall youth in that corner who would suit me very well。 Will any fit my gallant comrades with half…an…hour's punto and stoccado？〃
There was a silence； all looking at the lord deputy； whose eyes were kindling in a very ugly way。
〃No answer？ Then I must proceed to exhortation。 So！ Will that be sufficient？〃
And walking composedly across the tent； the fearless ruffian quietly stooped down； and smote Amyas Leigh full in the face。
Up sprang Amyas； heedless of all the august assembly； and with a single buffet felled him to the earth。
〃Excellent！〃 said he； rising unabashed。 〃I can always trust my instinct。 I knew the moment I saw him that he was a cavalier worth letting blood。 Now； sir； your sword and harness； and I am at your service outside！〃
The solemn and sententious Englishmen were altogether taken aback by the Italian's impudence； but Zouch settled the matter。
〃Most noble captain； will you be pleased to recollect a certain little occurrence at Messina； in the year 1575？ For if you do not； I do； and beg to inform this gentleman that you are unworthy of his sword； and had you； unluckily for you； been an Englishman； would have found the fashions of our country so different from your own that you would have been then hanged； sir； and probably may be so still。〃
The Italian's sword flashed out in a moment： but Lord Grey interfered。
〃No fighting here； gentlemen。 That may wait； and； what is more； shall wait tillStrike their swords down； Raleigh； Mackworth！ Strike their swords down！ Colonel Sebastian； you will be pleased to return as you came； in safety； having lost nothing； as （I frankly tell you） you have gained nothing； by your wild bearing here。 We shall proceed to deliberate on your fate。〃
〃I trust； my lord；〃 said Amyas； 〃that you will spare this braggart's life； at least for a day or two。 For in spite of Captain Zouch's warning； I must have to do with him yet； or my cheek will rise up in judgment against me at the last day。〃
〃Well spoken； lad；〃 said the colonel； as he swung out。 〃So！ worth a reprieve； by this sword； to have one more rapier…rattle before the gallows！ Then I take back no further answer； my lord deputy？ Not even our swords； our virgin blades； signor； the soldier's cherished bride？ Shall we go forth weeping widowers； and leave to strange embrace the lovely steel？〃
〃None； sir； by heaven！〃 said he； waxing wroth。 〃Do you come hither； pirates as you are； to dictate terms upon a foreign soil？ Is it not enough to have set up here the Spanish flag； and claimed the land of Ireland as the Pope's gift to the Spaniard； violated the laws of nations； and the solemn treaties of princes； under color of a mad superstition？〃
〃Superstition； my lord？ Nothing less。 Believe a philosopher who has not said a pater or an ave for seven years past at least。 Quod tango credo； is my motto； and though I am bound to say； under pain of the Inquisition； that the most holy Father the Pope has given this land of Ireland to his most Catholic Majesty the King of Spain； Queen Elizabeth having forfeited her title to it by heresy； why； my lord； I believe it as little as you do。 I believe that Ireland would have been mine； if I had won it； I believe religiously that it is not mine； now I have lost it。 What is； is； and a fig for priests； to…day to thee； to…morrow to me。 Addio！〃 And out he swung
〃There goes a most gallant rascal；〃 said the lord deputy。
〃And a most rascally gallant；〃 said Zouch。 〃The murder of his own page； of which I gave him a remembrancer； is among the least of his sins。〃
〃And now； Captain Raleigh；〃 said Lord Grey； as you have been so earnest in preaching this butchery； I have a right to ask none but you to practise it。〃
Raleigh bit his lip； and replied by the 〃quip courteous〃
〃I am at least a man； my lord； who thinks it shame to allow others to do that which I dare not do myself。〃
Lord Grey might probably have returned 〃the countercheck quarrelsome；〃 had not Mackworth risen
〃And I； my lord； being in that matter at least one of Captain Raleigh's kidney； will just go with him to see that he takes no harm by being bold enough to carry out an ugly business； and serving these rascals as their countrymen served Mr。 Oxenham。〃
〃I bid you good morning； then； gentlemen； though I cannot bid you God speed；〃 said Lord Grey； and sitting down again； covered his face with his hands； and； to the astonishment of all bystanders； burst； say the chroniclers； into tears。
Amyas followed Raleigh out。 The latter was pale； but determined； and very wroth against the deputy。
〃Does the man take me for a hangman；〃 said he； 〃that he speaks to me thus？ But such is the way of the great。 If you neglect your duty； they haul you over the coals； if you do it； you must do it on your own responsibility。 Farewell； Amyas； you will not shrink from me as a butcher when I return？〃
〃God forbid！ But how will you do it？〃
〃March one company in； and drive them forth； and let the other cut them down as they come out。Pah！〃
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
It was done。 Right or wrong； it was done。 The shrieks and curses had died away； and the Fort del Oro was a red shambles； which the soldiers were trying to cover from the sight of heaven and earth； by dragging the bodies into the ditch； and covering them with the ruins of the rampart； while the Irish； who had beheld from the woods that awful warning； fled trembling into the deepest recesses of the forest。 It was done； and it never needed to be done again。 The hint was severe； but it was sufficient。 Many years passed before a Spaniard set foot again in Ireland。
The Spanish and Italian officers were spared； and Amyas had Don Guzman Maria Magdalena Sotomayor de Soto duly adjudged to him； as his prize by right of war。 He was； of course； ready enough to fight Sebastian of Modena： but Lord Grey forbade the duel： blood enough had been shed already。 The next question was； where to bestow Don Guzman till his ransom should arrive； and as Amyas could not well deliver the gallant Don into the safe custody of Mrs。 Leigh at Burrough； and still less into that of Frank at Court； he was fain to write to Sir Richard Grenville； and ask his advice； and in the meanwhile keep the Spaniard with him upon parole； which he frankly gave；saying that as for running away； he had nowhere to run to； and as for joining the Irish he had no mind to turn pig； and Amyas found him； as shall be hereafter told； pleasant company enough。 But one morning Raleigh entered
〃I have done you a good turn； Leigh； if you think it one。 I have talked St。 Leger into making you my lieutenant； and giving you the custody of a right pleasant hermitagesome castle Shackatory or other in the midst of a big bog； where time will run swift and smooth with you； between hunting wild Irish； snaring snipes； and drinking yourself drunk with usquebaugh over a turf fire。〃
〃I'll go；〃 quoth Amyas； 〃anything for work。〃 So he went and took possession of his lieutenancy and his black robber tower； and there passed the rest of the winter； fighting or hunting all