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d us to send Captain Percy home in irons to answer for this passing strange offense； or to return； willy nilly； the lady who is now surely his wife； and we will have no choice but to obey。 Until the Company commands us we will do nothing； nay we can do nothing。' And every one of my fellow Councilors （for myself； I was busy with my pens） saith； 'My opinion； Sir George。' The upshot of it all is that the Due Return is to sail in two days with our humble representation to his Majesty that though we bow to his lightest word as the leaf bows to the zephyr； yet we are； in this sole matter； handfast； compelled by his Majesty's own gracious charter to refer our slightest official doing to that noble Company which owes its very being to its rigid adherence to the terms of said charter。 Wherefore； if his Majesty will be graciously pleased to command us as usual through the said Company … and so on。 Of course； not a soul in the Council； or in Jamestown； or in Virginia dreams of a duel behind the church at sunrise to…morrow。〃 He knocked the ashes from his pipe； and by degrees got his fat body up from the doorstep。 〃So there's a reprieve for you； Ralph Percy； unless you kill or are killed to…morrow morning。 In the latter case； the problem's solved； in the former； the best service you can do yourself； and maybe the Company； is to walk out of the world of your own accord； and that as quickly as possible。 Better a cross…roads and a stake through a dead heart than a hangman's hands upon a live one。〃
〃One moment；〃 I said。 〃Doth my Lord Carnal know of this decision of the Governor's？〃
〃Ay； and a fine passion it put him into。 Stormed and swore and threatened； and put the Governor's back up finely。 It seems that he thought to 'bout ship to…morrow； lady and all。 He refuseth to go without the lady； and so remaineth in Virginia until he can have his will。 Lord！ but Buckingham would be a happy man if he were kept here forever and a day！ My lord knows what he risks； and he's in as black a humor as ever you saw。 But I have striven to drop oil on the troubled waters。 'My lord；' I told him； 'you have but to posses your soul with patience for a few short weeks； just until the ship the Governor sends can return。 Then all must needs be as your lordship wishes。 In the meantime； you may find existence in these wilds and away from that good company which is the soul of life endurable； and perhaps pleasant。 You may have daily sight of the lady who is to become your wife； and that should count for much with so ardent and determined a lover as your lordship hath shown yourself to be。 You may have the pleasure of contemplating your rival's grave； if you kill him。 If he kills you； you will care the less about the date of the Santa Teresa's sailing。 The land； too； hath inducements to offer to a philosophical and contemplative mind such as one whom his Majesty delighteth to honor must needs possess。 Beside these crystal rivers and among these odoriferous woods； my lord； one escapes much expense； envy； contempt； vanity； and vexation of mind。'〃
The hoary sinner laughed and laughed。 When he had gone away； still in huge enjoyment of his own mirth； I； who had seen small cause for mirth； went slowly indoors。 Not a yard from the door； in the shadow of the vines that draped the window； stood the woman who was bringing this fate upon me。
〃I thought that you were in your own room；〃 I said harshly； after a moment of dead silence。
〃I came to the window；〃 she replied。 〃I listened。 I heard all。〃 She spoke haltingly； through dry lips。 Her face was as white as her ruff； but a strange light burned in her eyes； and there was no trembling。 〃This morning you said that all that you had … your name and your sword … were at my service。 You may take them both again； sir。 I refuse the aid you offer。 Swear what you will； tell them what you please； make your peace whilst you may。 I will not have your blood upon my soul。〃
There was yet wine upon the table。 I filled a cup and brought it to her。 〃Drink！〃 I commanded。
〃I have much of forbearance； much of courtesy； to thank you for；〃 she said。 〃I will remember it when … Do not think that I shall blame you〃 …
I held the cup to her lips。 〃Drink！〃 I repeated。 She touched the red wine with her lips。 I took it from her and put it to my own。 〃We drink of the same cup；〃 I said； with my eyes upon hers； and drained it to the bottom。 〃I am weary of swords and courts and kings。 Let us go into the garden and watch the minister's bees。〃
CHAPTER X IN WHICH MASTER PORY GAINS TIME TO SOME PURPOSE
ROLFE coming down by boat from Varina； had reached the town in the dusk of that day which had seen the arrival of the Santa Teresa； and I had gone to him before I slept that night。 Early morning found us together again in the field behind the church。 We had not long to wait in the chill air and dew…drenched grass。 When the red rim of the sun showed like a fire between the trunks of the pines came my Lord Carnal； and with him Master Pory and Dr。 Lawrence Bohun。
My lord and I bowed to each other profoundly。 Rolfe with my sword and Master Pory with my lord's stepped aside to measure the blades。 Dr。 Bohun； muttering something about the feverishness of the early air； wrapped his cloak about him； and huddled in among the roots of a gigantic cedar。 I stood with my back to the church； and my face to the red water between us and the illimitable forest； my lord opposite me； six feet away。 He was dressed again splendidly in black and scarlet； colors he much affected； and； with the dark beauty of his face and the arrogant grace with which he stood there waiting for his sword； made a picture worth looking upon。
Rolfe and the Secretary came back to us。 〃If you kill him； Ralph；〃 said the former in a low voice； as he took my doublet from me； 〃you are to put yourself in my hands and do as you are bid。〃
〃Which means that you will try to smuggle me north to the Dutch。 Thanks； friend； but I'll see the play out here。〃
〃You were ever obstinate； self…willed； reckless … and the man most to my heart；〃 he continued。 〃 Have your way； in God's name； but I wish not to see what will come of it！ All's ready； Master Secretary。〃
Very slowly that worthy stooped down and examined the ground； narrowly and quite at his leisure。 〃I like it not； Master Rolfe；〃 he declared at length。 〃Here is a molehill； and there a fairy ring。〃
〃I see neither；〃 said Rolfe。 〃It looks as smooth as a table。 But we can easily shift under the cedars where there is no grass。〃
〃Here's a projecting root；〃 announced the Secretary； when the new ground had been reached。
Rolfe shrugged his shoulders； but we moved again。
〃The light comes jaggedly through the branches；〃 objected my lord's second。 〃Better try the open again。〃
Rolfe uttered an exclamation of impatience； and my lord stamped his foot on the ground。 〃What is this foolery； sir？〃 the latter cried fiercely。 〃The ground's well enough； and there 's sufficient light to die by。〃
〃Let the light pass； then；〃 said his second resignedly。 〃Gentlemen； are you read … Ods blood！ my lord； I had not noticed the roses upon your lordship's shoes！ They are so large and have such a fall that they sweep the ground on either side your