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She turned upon me a perfectly colorless face。 〃All my life after I will be to you an obedient wife；〃 she said。 〃This once I pray you to hold me excused。 。 。 。 Speak； my lord。〃
There was the mirth of the lost in the laugh with which he turned to the Governor。 〃That pretty little tale； sir； that I regaled you with； the day you obligingly picked me up； was pure imagination； the wetting must have disordered my reason。 A potion sweeter than the honey of Hybla； which I am about to drink； hath restored me beforehand。 Gentlemen all； there was mutiny aboard that ship which so providentially sank before your very eyes。 For why？ The crew； who were pirates； and the captain； who was yonder gentleman； did not agree。 The one wished to attack you； board you； rummage you； and slay； after recondite fashions； every mother's son of you； the other demurred； … so strongly； in fact； that his life ceased to be worth a pin's purchase。 Indeed； I believe he resigned his captaincy then and there； and； declining to lift a finger against an English ship； defied them to do their worst。 He had no hand in the firing of those culverins； the mutineers touched them off without so much as a 'by your leave。' His attention was otherwise occupied。 Good sirs； there was not the slightest reason in nature why the ship should have struck upon that sunken reef； to the damnation of her people and the salvation of yours。 Why do you suppose she diverged from the path of safety to split into slivers against that fortunate ledge？〃
The men around drew in their breath； and one or two sprang to their feet。 My lord laughed again。 〃Have you seen the pious man who left Jamestown and went aboard the pirate ship as this gentleman's lieutenant？ He hath the strength of a bull。 Captain Percy here had but to nod his head； and hey； presto！ the helmsman was bowled over； and the minister had the helm。 The ship struck： the pirates went to hell； and you； gentlemen； were preserved to order all things well in Virginia。 May she long be grateful！ The man who dared that death rather than attack the ship he guessed to be the Company's is my mortal foe； whom I will yet sweep from my path； but he is not a pirate。 Ay； take it down； an it please you； Master Secretary！ I retreat from a most choice position； to be sure； but what care I？ I see a vantage ground more to my liking。 I have lost a throw； perhaps； but I will recoup ten such losses with one such kiss。 By your leave； lady。〃
He went up to her where she stood； with hanging arms； her head a little bent； white and cold and yielding as a lady done in snow； gazed at her a moment； with his passion written in his fierce eyes and haggard； handsome face； then crushed her to him。
If I could have struck him dead； I would have done so。 When her word had been kept； she released herself with a quiet and resolute dignity。 As for him； he sank back into the great chair beside the Governor's； leaned an elbow on the table； and hid his eyes with one shaking hand。
The Governor rose to his feet； and motioned away the two seamen who held me fast。 〃We'll have no hanging this morning； gentlemen；〃 he announced。 〃Captain Percy； I beg to apologize to you for words that were never meant for a brave and gallant gentleman； but for a pirate who I find does not exist。 I pray you to forget them； quite。〃
I returned his bow； but my eyes traveled past him。
〃I will allow you no words with my Lord Carnal；〃 he said。 〃With your wife； … that is different。〃 He moved aside with a smile。
She was standing； pale； with downcast eyes； where my lord had left her。 〃Jocelyn；〃 I said。 She turned toward me； crimsoned deeply； uttered a low cry； half laughter； half a sob； then covered her face with her hands。 I took them away and spoke her name again； and this time she hid her face upon my breast。
A moment thus； then … for all eyes were upon her … I lifted her head； kissed her ； and gave her to Lady Wyatt； whom I found at my side。 〃I commend my wife to your ladyship's care；〃 I said。 〃As you are woman； deal sisterly by her！〃
〃You may trust me； sir；〃 she made answer； the tears upon her cheeks。 〃I did not know； … I did not understand。 。 。 。Dear heart； come away； … come away with Margaret Wyatt。〃
Clayborne opened the door of the cabin； and stood aside with a low bow。 The men who had sat to judge me rose； only the King's favorite kept his seat。 With Lady Wyatt's arm about her； the King's ward passed between the lines of standing gentlemen to the door； there hesitated； turned； and； facing them with I know not what of pride and shame； wistfulness of entreaty and noble challenge to belief in the face and form that were of all women's most beautiful； curtsied to them until her knee touched the floor。 She was gone； and the sunlight with her。
When I turned upon that shameless lord where he sat in his evil beauty； with his honor dead before him； men came hastily in between。 I put them aside with a laugh。 I had but wanted to look at him。 I had no sword； … already he lay beneath my challenge； … and words are weak things。
At length he rose； as arrogant as ever in his port； as evilly superb in his towering pride； and as amazingly indifferent to the thoughts of men who lied not。 〃This case hath wearied me；〃 he said。 〃I will retire for a while to rest； and in dreams to live over a past sweetness。 Give you good…day； gentles！ Sir Francis Wyatt； you will remember that this gentleman did resist arrest； and that he lieth under the King's displeasure！〃 So saying he clapped his hat upon his head and walked out of the cabin。 The Company's officers drew a long breath； as if a fresher air had come in with his departure。
〃I have no choice； Captain Percy； but to keep you still under restraint； both here and when we shall reach Jamestown；〃 said the Governor。 〃All that the Company； through me； can do； consistent with its duty to his Majesty； to lighten your confinement shall be done〃 …
〃Then send him not again into the hold； Sir Francis！〃 exclaimed the Treasurer； with a wry face。
The Governor laughed。 〃Lighter and sweeter quarters shall be found。 Your wife's a brave lady； Captain Percy〃 …
〃And a passing fair one；〃 said Claybourne under his breath。
〃I left a friend below in the hold； your Honor；〃 I said。 〃He came with me from Jamestown because he was my friend。 The King hath never heard of him。 And he's no more a pirate than I or you； your Honor。 He is a minister； … a sober； meek； and godly man〃 …
From behind the Secretary rose the singsong of my acquaintance of the hold； Dr。 John Pott。 〃He is Jeremy； your Honor； Jeremy who made the town merry at Blackfriars。 Your Honor remembers him？ He had a sickness； and forsook the life and went into the country。 He was known to the Dean of St。 Paul's。 All the town laughed when it heard that he had taken orders。〃
〃Jeremy！〃 cried out the Treasurer。 〃Nick Bottom！ Christopher Sly！ Sir Toby Belch！ Sir Francis； give me Jeremy to keep in my cabin！〃
The Governor laughed。 〃He shall be bestowed with Captain Percy where he'll not lack for company； I warrant！ Jeremy！ Ben Jonson loved him； they drank together at the Mermaid。〃
A little later the Treasurer turned to leave my new quarters； to which he had walked beside me； glanced at the men wh