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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/75547-0.txt b/75547-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b8f702 --- /dev/null +++ b/75547-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10548 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75547 *** + + + + + + BEAUVALLET + + By GEORGETTE HEYER + + London + WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD + + _First published September 1929_ + _New Impression November 1929_ + _Popular (3s. 6d.) Edition 1931_ + _Reprinted 1932_ + + _Printed in Great Britain at + The Windmill Press, Kingswood + Surrey_ + + + TO + F. D. H. + + + + + BEAUVALLET + + + + + CHAPTER I + + +The deck was a shambles. Men lay dead and dying; there was split +woodwork, a welter of broken mizzen and sagging sail, dust and grime, +and the reek of powder. A ball screamed through the rigging overhead; +another tore the sea into wild foam beneath the galleon's stern. +She seemed to stagger, to reel, to list heavily to port. From his +quarterdeck Don Juan de Narvaez gave a sharp order; his lieutenant went +running down the companion into the waist of the ship. + +Soldiers crowded there in steel breastplates and chased morions. They +had halberds and pikes, and some held long double-edged swords. They +looked out to sea, to where the smaller ship came steadily on, the +Red Cross of Saint George flying at her mainmast head. They were sure +now that it would end in a hand to hand fight; they were even glad of +it: they knew themselves to be the finest soldiers in Christendom. +What chance could these bold English have against them at close +quarters? The English ship had held off beyond reach of the Spanish +guns this past hour, ceaselessly bombarding the _Santa Maria_ with +her longer-reached cannons. The soldiers in the waist did not know +how serious was the damage she had wreaked, but they were fretting +and nervous from their impotence, and their forced inaction. Now the +English ship drew nearer, the wind filling her white sails, and +bearing her on like a bird through the scudding waves. + +Don Juan watched her come, and saw his guns belch fire upon her. +But she was close, and there was little damage done, full half of +the Spanish guns shooting above her from the over-tall sides of the +galleon. The _Venture_--and he knew now beyond all doubt that it was +the _Venture_ herself--bore down upon them undaunted. + +She came up alongside, discharging her fire into the galleon's waist, +and passed on unscathed. Drawing a little ahead of the Spaniard she +wore suddenly, came sailing across the galleon's bows, and raked her +cruelly fore and aft. + +The _Santa Maria_ was riddled and groaning; there was panic aboard, and +a hopeless confusion. Don Juan knew his ship was crippled, and cursed +softly in his beard. But he had cool courage enough, and he knew how to +rally his men. The _Venture_ was coming round, and it was evident that +she meant to grapple the larger galleon now. Well, therein lay hope. +Let her come: the _Santa Maria_ was doomed, but aboard the _Venture_ +was El Beauvallet--Beauvallet the mocker of Spain, the freebooter, the +madman! His capture would be worth even the loss of so noble a galleon +as the _Santa Maria_: ay, and more than that! There was not a Spanish +admiral who had not that capture for his ambition. Don Juan drew in his +breath on the thought. El Beauvallet who bit his thumb at Spain! If it +should fall to his lot to take this man of a charmed life prisoner for +King Philip he thought he would ask no more of life. + +It had been with this in mind that Don Juan had challenged the ship +when she hove into sight that afternoon. He had known that El +Beauvallet was sailing in these waters; at Santiago he had seen Perinat +who had sailed forth to punish the _Venture_ not a fortnight ago. +Perinat had come back to Santiago in his own long boat, biting his +nails, a beaten man. He had talked wildly of witchcraft, of a devil +of a man who threw back his head and laughed. Don Juan had sneered at +that. The bungler Perinat! + +Now it seemed that he too stood in danger of having bungled. He had +thrown down the gauntlet to Beauvallet, who never refused a challenge, +and Beauvallet had picked it up, and flirted his dainty craft forward +through the sparkling sea. + +There had been some desire to show a lady what a Narvaez could +accomplish. Don Juan chewed his lip, and knew a pang of remorse. Below, +in the panelled stateroom, was no less a personage than Don Manuel de +Rada y Sylva, late Governor of Santiago, with his daughter Dominica. +Don Juan knew only too well in what peril they now stood. But when it +came to hand to hand fighting the tables might still be turned. + +The soldiers were armed and ready in the waist and on the forecastle. +There were gunners, grimed and stained with sweat, standing by their +culverins; the brief panic had been swiftly quelled. Let the _Venture_ +come! + +She was near, standing the fire from the long basiliscos; she drew +nearer, and through the smoke one might see the men on her with +boarding axes and swords, ready for the order to board the Spaniard. +Then, suddenly, there was a crack and a roar, the bursting flame and +the black smoke of a score of swivel-guns on her decks, all trained +upon the waist of the _Santa Maria_. There was havoc wrought amongst +the Spanish soldiery; cries, groans, and oaths rent the air, and +swiftly, while havoc lasted, the _Venture_ crept up, and grappled the +tall galleon. + +Men swarmed up the sides, using their boarding axes to form scaling +ladders. From the spritsail yard they sprang down upon the deck of the +_Santa Maria_, daggers between their teeth, and long swords in hand. No +might of Spanish soldiery, maimed as it was by the wicked fire, could +stop them. They came on, and the fight was desperate over the slippery +decks: sword to sword, slash and cut, and the quick stab of daggers. + +Don Juan stood at the head of the companion, sword in hand, a tall +figure in breastplate and tassets of fluted steel. He sought in the +press for a leader amongst the boarders, but could see none in that +hurly-burly. + +It was hard fighting, frenzied fighting, over wounded and dead, with +ever and again the crack of a dag fired at close range. The pandemonium +was intense; no single voice could be distinguished amongst the hubbub +of groans, shouted orders, sharp cries, and clash of arms. One could +not tell for a while who had the advantage: the fight swayed and +eddied, and the _Santa Maria_ lay helpless under all. + +A man seemed to spring up out of the mob below, and gained the +companion. A moment he stood with his foot upon the first step, looking +up at Don Juan, a red sword in his hand, a cloak twisted about his +left arm, and a black pointed beard upthrust. A chased morion shaded +the upper part of his face, but Don Juan saw white teeth agleam, and +crouched for the stroke that should send this stranger to perdition. +"Down, _perro_!" he snarled. + +The stranger laughed, and answered him in pure Castilian. "Nay, señor, +the dog comes up." + +Don Juan peered to see more closely into the upturned face. "Come up +and die, dog," he said softly, "for I think you are he whom I seek." + +"All Spain seems to seek me, señor," answered the stranger merrily. +"But who shall slay Nick Beauvallet? Will you try?" + +He came up the first steps in a bound, and his sword took Don Juan's in +a strong parry that beat it aside for a moment. He brought his cloak +swirling into swift play, and entangled Don Juan's sword in it. He was +up on the quarterdeck in a flash, even as Don Juan, livid, shook his +sword free of the cloak. The two blades rang together, but Don Juan +knew that he had met his master. He was forced back and back across the +deck to the bulwarks, fighting grimly every inch of the way. + +Cruzada, his lieutenant, came running from the poop-deck. Beauvallet +saw, and made a quick end. His great sword whirled aloft, cleaved +downwards, hissing through the air, and shattered the pauldron over +Don Juan's shoulder. Don Juan sank, half-stunned, to his knees, and +his sword clattered to the deck. Beauvallet turned, panting, to meet +Cruzada. + +But there were Englishmen on the quarterdeck now, hard upon the heels +of their leader, and from all sides came cries from the Spaniards for +quarter. Beauvallet's sword held Cruzada in check. "Yield, señor, +yield," he said. "I hold your general prisoner." + +"But yet I may slay you, pirate!" gasped Cruzada. + +"Curb ambition, child," Beauvallet said. "Here Daw, Russet, Curlew! +Overpower me this springald. Softly, lads, softly!" + +Cruzada found himself surrounded, and cried out in fury. Rough hands +seized him from behind, and dragged him back; he saw Beauvallet leaning +on his sword, and cursed him wildly for a coward and a poltroon. + +Beauvallet chuckled at that. "Grow a beard, child, and meet me when +it's grown. Mr. Dangerfield!" His lieutenant was at hand. "Have a +guard about the worthy señor," said Beauvallet, and indicated Don Juan +by a brief nod. He bent, picked up Don Juan's sword, and was off, +light-footed, down the companion into the waist of the ship. + +Don Juan recovered his senses to find himself unarmed, and El +Beauvallet gone. He came staggering to his feet, an English hand at +his elbow, and was aware of a fair boy confronting him. "You are my +prisoner, señor," said Richard Dangerfield, in halting Spanish. "The +day is lost." + +The sweat was in Don Juan's eyes; he brushed it away, and could see +the truth of this statement. All over the galleon his men were laying +down their arms. The rage and the anguish that convulsed him were wiped +suddenly from his face. By a supreme effort he recovered his _sosiego_, +and stood straight and looked impassively as should befit his breeding. +He achieved a bow. "I am in your hands, señor." + +Over the quarterdeck towards the poop men were hurrying already in +search of plunder. Some three or four stout fellows went clattering +down the companion that led to the staterooms. They came upon a sight +to astonish them. Backed against the wall, with hands laid along the +panelling to either side of her stood a lady, a lady all cream and +rose and ebony. Cream her skin, and rose her lips, ebony the lustrous +hair confined under a net of gold. Her eyes were dark and large under +languorous lids, the brows delicately marked, the nose short and proud, +the full lips curved and ripe. She wore a gown of purple camlet, worked +cunningly with a pattern of gold thread, with a kirtle of armazine to +fall from the veriest hint of a farthingale. Behind her head reared up +a high ruff of lace sewn with crystals. It framed a face piquant and +lovely. The square of her bodice was cut low across her breast; a jewel +lay upon the white skin, rising and falling with her quickened breath. + +The foremost of the invaders stood in an amazed stare, but recovered +before those behind him might push forward. "A wench!" he cried on a +coarse laugh. "A rare wench, as I live!" + +His fellows came crowding to get a sight of this miracle. There were +sparks of anger in the lady's eyes, and, at the back of them, fear. + +A man rose from a high-backed chair by the table, a man of middle age, +enfeebled by the West Indian climate. Latent fever had him in its grip; +it might be seen in his overbright eyes, and in the intermittent ague +that shook him. He wore a long furred gown, and a close cap, and he +leaned heavily upon a stick. There was a priest of the Franciscan order +beside him, cowled darkly, but the holy man paid no heed to anything +but his beads, over which he muttered ceaselessly. The other man went +with an infirm step to stand before his daughter, shielding her from +curious eyes. "I demand to be taken before your commander!" he said in +the Spanish tongue. "I am Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva, late Governor of +the island of Santiago." + +It is doubtful whether much of this was intelligible to the English +seamen. A couple advanced into the stateroom and put Don Manuel aside. +"Hold off, old greybeard!" William Hick advised him, and put a dirty +hand under the lady's chin. "The pretty chuck! Buss me, sweeting!" + +There came instead the sound of a ringing slap. William Hick started +back with a rueful hand clapped to his cheek. "Oh, a shrew!" + +John Daw caught the lady about her trim waist, clipping one of her arms +to her side. The other fighting hand was imprisoned in his huge paw. +"Softly, my cosset, softly!" he chuckled, and gave her a hearty kiss. +"That's the way to use, lads!" + +Don Manuel, held between two men, cried out. "Unhand her, fellow! Your +commander! I demand to see your commander!" + +They caught at the last word, and it sobered them a little. "Ay, hail +'em before the General. It's safer." John Daw pushed Hick aside, who +was fingering the jewel about the girl's neck. "Let be! Do you want Mad +Nick after you? Come lass, on deck with you!" + +The lady was forced, resisting to the door. She did not know what they +were going to do with her, and struggled wildly, throwing herself back +against their pulling hands. It did not serve. "The curst wench!" +growled Hick, still smarting from the blow she had dealt him. He +snatched her up into his arms and bore her up the companion to the +poop-deck. + +There were others gathered there, others who greeted the appearance +of this frightened, wrathful lady with amazement and some ribaldry. +She was set on her feet, and straightway fell upon Hick like a young +wild-cat. She ignored a warning cry from her father, brought under ward +on to the deck, and hit out at Hick, stamped with her heel on a large +foot, scratched at a bearded face. She was seized and held fast, each +wrist in custody of a grinning sailor. One of them chucked her under +the chin, and laughed hugely to see her throw up her head. "Little +turtle-dove, pretty love-bird!" said John Daw, essaying satire. + +There were men crowded all about her, wondering, jesting, feasting +their eyes. A lip was smacked; there was a knowing wink and a bawdy +joke. The lady shrank. + +Then, all at once, a ringing voice spoke authoritatively from beyond +the group that encircled her. "God's death! What's this? Give way +there!" + +Two men went staggering aside, spun apart by an iron hand on the +shoulder of each. The lady looked fearfully into the face of El +Beauvallet. + +He had cast aside his morion, and his close black hair showed, curling +neatly over his head. Under straight brows she saw fine eyes, the +blue of the sea with the sunlight on the water. They were bright eyes +and keen, vivid under the black lashes; laughing eyes, watchful yet +careless. + +The laugh was stayed in them now as he checked in his impatient stride. +He stood staring; a mobile eyebrow flew up comically; Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet appeared incredulous, and blinked at this unexpected vision. + +His glance, quick moving, took in next the lady's captors, and the +stilled laughter went right out of his eyes. He was swift in action, +too swift for Hick, still stupidly grasping one of the lady's wrists. A +clenched fist shot out and took Master Hick neatly on the point of the +jaw. Master Hick fell a-sprawl on the deck. "Cullions! Dawcocks!" said +Beauvallet terribly, and swung round to deal in kind with John Daw. + +But Master Daw had hurriedly released the wrist he held, and was making +off as quickly as he could. He was sped on his way by a shrewd kick +to the rearward. Beauvallet turned to the lady. "A million pardons, +señora!" he said, as though here were no great matter. + +The lady was forced to admit him to be a personable fellow, and she +found his smile irresistible. She bit back an answering gleam: one +would not smile friendly upon an English freebooter. "Unhand my father, +señor!" she commanded, mighty haughty. + +The tone seemed to amuse Beauvallet; his shoulders shook +appreciatively. He looked round for sign of my lady's parent, and saw +him standing between guards who straightway let him go, and stepped +back in something of a hurry. + +Don Manuel was shaken, and ashen pale. He spoke breathlessly. "I demand +instantly to see the commander!" + +"A million more pardons!" Beauvallet responded. "Behold the commander, +Nicholas Beauvallet, at your service!" + +The lady exclaimed at that. "I knew it! You are El Beauvallet!" + +Beauvallet turned to her, the eyebrow was raised again, and the eyes +themselves were twinkling. "Himself, señora. Wholly at your feet." + +"I," said Don Manuel stiffly, "am Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva. You +address my daughter, Doña Dominica. I demand to know the meaning of +this outrage." + +"Outrage?" said Beauvallet, honestly puzzled. "What outrage, señor?" + +Don Manuel flushed, and pointed a shaking finger to the shambles +forward. "You need ask, señor?" + +"The fight! Why, to say truth, noble señor, I had thought that this +ship opened fire upon me," said Beauvallet pleasantly. "And I was never +one to refuse a challenge." + +"Where," demanded Doña Dominica, "is Don Juan de Narvaez?" + +"Under guard, señora, until he goes aboard his own long boat." + +"You beat him! You, with that little ship!" + +Beauvallet laughed out at that. "I, with that little ship," he bowed. + +"What of us?" Don Manuel interrupted. + +Sir Nicholas looked rueful, ran a hand through his crisp hair. "You +have me there, señor," he confessed. "What a-plague are you doing +aboard this vessel?" + +"I conceive that to be none of your business, señor. If you must know I +am on my way home from Santiago to Spain." + +"Why, an evil chance," said Beauvallet sympathetically. "What folly +possessed that numskull of a commander of yours to open fire on me?" + +"Don Juan did his duty, señor," said Don Manuel haughtily. + +"Alack then, that virtue has not been better rewarded," said Sir +Nicholas lightly. "And what am I to do with you?" He bit his finger, +pondering the question. "There is of course the long boat. She puts off +as soon as may be for the island of Dominica. It lies some three miles +to the north of us. Do you choose to go aboard her?" + +Doña Dominica took a quick step forward. Since her fears were lulled +her temper rose. This careless manner was not to be borne. She broke +into impassioned speech, shooting her words at Beauvallet. "Is that all +you can say? Sea-robber! Hateful pirate! Is it nothing to you that we +must put back to the Indies and wait perhaps months for another ship? +Oh nothing, nothing! You see where my father stands, a sick man, and +you care nothing that you expose him to such rough usage. Base, wicked +robber! What do you care! Nothing! I could spit on you for a vile +English freebooter!" She ended on a sob of rage, and stamped her foot +at him. + +"Good lack!" said Beauvallet, staring down into that exquisite face of +fury. A smile of amusement and of admiration crept into his eyes. It +caused Doña Dominica to lose the last shreds of her temper. What would +you? She was a maid all fire and spirit. She struck at him, and he +caught her hand and held it, pulled her closer, and looked down into +her face with eyes a-twinkle. "I cry pardon, señora. We will amend +all." He turned his head and sent a shout ringing for his lieutenant. + +"Loose me!" Dominica said, and tried to pull her hand away. "Loose me!" + +"Why, you would scratch me if I did," Beauvallet said, teasing. + +It was not to be borne. The lady's eyes fell, and encountered the hilt +of a dagger in Beauvallet's belt. She raised them again, held his in a +defiant stare, and stole her hand to the dagger's hilt. + +Sir Nicholas looked quickly down, saw what she would be at, and +laughed. "Brave lass!" He let her go, let her draw out his dagger, and +flung wide his arms. "Come then! Have at me!" + +She stepped back, uncertain and bewildered, wondering what manner of +man was this who could mock at death itself. "If you touch me I will +kill you," she said through her teeth. + +Still he came on, twinkling, daring her. She drew back until the +bulwarks stayed her. + +"Now strike!" invited Beauvallet. "I'll swear you have the stomach for +it!" + +"My daughter!" Don Manuel was aghast. "Give back that knife! I command +you! Señor, be good enough to stand back." + +Beauvallet turned away from the lady. It seemed he gave no second +thought to the dangerous weapon she held. He waited for Dangerfield to +come up, standing with his hands tucked negligently into his belt. + +"Sir, you called me?" + +Beauvallet indicated Don Manuel and his daughter with a comprehensive +sweep of his hand. "Convey Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva and his daughter +aboard the _Venture_," he said, in Spanish. + +Don Manuel started; Dominica gave a gasp. "Is it a jest, señor?" Don +Manuel demanded. + +"I' God's Name, why should I jest?" + +"You make us prisoners?" + +"Nay, I bid you be my guests, señor. I said I would amend all." + +The lady broke out again. "You mock us! You shall not take us aboard +your ship. We will not go!" + +Beauvallet set his hands on his hips. The mobile eyebrow went up again. +"How now? First you will and then you will not. You tell me I am a dog +to hinder your return to Spain, and curse me roundly for a rogue. Well, +I have said I will amend the fault: I will convey you to Spain with all +speed. What ails you then?" + +"Take us to Spain?" said Don Manuel uncomprehendingly. + +"You cannot!" cried Dominica, incredulous. "You dare not!" + +"Dare not? God's Son, I am Nick Beauvallet!" said Sir Nicholas, amazed. +"Dared I sail into Vigo a year back, and lay all waste? What should +stop me?" + +She flung up her hands, and the dagger flashed in the sunlight. "Oh, +now I know that they named you well who named you Mad Beauvallet!" + +"You have it wrong," Beauvallet said, jesting. "Mad Nicholas is the +name they call me. I make you free of it, señora." + +Don Manuel interposed. "Señor, I do not understand you. I cannot +believe you speak in good faith." + +"The best in the world, señor. Is an Englishman's word good enough?" + +Don Manuel knew not how to answer. It was left for his daughter to say +No, very hotly. All she got by that was a quick look, and a slight +laugh. + +Across the deck came Don Juan de Narvaez, stately even in defeat. He +bowed low to Don Manuel, lower still to Doña Dominica, and ignored +Beauvallet. "Señor, the boat waits. Permit me to escort you." + +"Get you aboard, Señor Punctilio," said Sir Nicholas. "Don Manuel sails +with me." + +"No!" said Dominica. But it is very certain that she meant yes. + +"I have no desire to jest with you, señor," Don Juan said coldly. "Don +Manuel de Rada naturally sails with me." + +A long finger beckoned to Don Juan's guard. "Escort Don Juan to the +long boat," said Sir Nicholas. + +"I do not stir from here without Don Manuel and his daughter," said +Narvaez, and struck an attitude. + +"Take him away," said Sir Nicholas, bored. "God speed you, señor." +Narvaez was led away, protesting. "Señora, be pleased to go aboard the +_Venture_. Diccon, have their traps conveyed at once." + +Dominica braved him, to see what might come of it. "I will not go!" She +clenched the dagger. "Constrain me at your peril!" + +"A challenge?" inquired Beauvallet. "Oh, rash! I told you that I never +refused a challenge." He bore down upon her, and dodged, laughing, +the dagger's point. He caught her wrist, and had his other arm firmly +clipped about her waist. "Cry peace, sweetheart," he said, and took the +dagger from her, and restored it to its sheath. "Come!" he said, tossed +her up in his arms, and strode off with her to the quarterdeck. + +Dominica forbore resistance. It would be useless, she knew, and her +dignity would suffer. She permitted herself to be carried off, and +liked the manner of it. They did not use such ready methods in Spain. +There was great strength in the arm that upheld her, and the very +carelessness of the man intrigued one. A strange, mad fellow, with an +odd directness. One would know more of him. + +She was carried down the companion into the waist, where the men were +busy with the treasure--China silks, and linen-cloths, ingots of gold, +bars of silver, and spices from the islands. "Robber!" said Dominica +softly. + +He chuckled. It was annoying. To the bulwarks he went, and she wondered +how he would manage now. But he did it easily enough, with a hand on +the shrouds, and a leap up. He stood poised a moment. "Welcome aboard +the _Venture_, sweetheart!" he said audaciously, and climbed down with +her safe tucked in his arm to his own poop-deck below. + +She was set on her feet, ruffled and speechless, and saw her father +being helped carefully down the side of the tall galleon. Don Manuel +appeared to be both bewildered and amused. + +"See them well bestowed, Diccon," Beauvallet bade the fair youth, and +went back the way he had come. + +"Will it please you to come below, señora?" Dangerfield said shyly, and +bowed to them both. "Your chests will be here anon." + +Don Manuel smiled a little wryly. "I think the man is either mad--or +else--an odd, whimsical fellow, my daughter," he remarked. "We shall +doubtless learn which in time." + + + + + CHAPTER II + + +Doña Dominica was escorted below decks, and led to a fair cabin which +she guessed to be the home of Master Dangerfield, hurriedly evicted. +She was left there alone, while Master Dangerfield took her father +on to yet another cabin. She took stock of her surroundings, and was +pleased to approve. There were mellow walls, oak-panelled, a cushioned +seat under the porthole, a table with carved legs, a joint-stool, a +fine Flanders chest, a cupboard against the bulkhead, and the bunk. + +There was presently a discreet scratching on the door. She bade enter, +and a small man with an inquisitive nose and very bravely curling +mustachios insinuated his head into the room. Doña Dominica regarded +him in silence. A pair of shrewd grey eyes smiled deprecatingly. +"Permit that I bring your chests, señora," said the newcomer in perfect +Spanish. "Also your ladyship's woman." + +"Maria!" called out Dominica joyfully. + +The door was opened further to admit a plump creature who flew to her, +and sobbed, and laughed. "Señorita! They have not harmed you!" She fell +to patting Dominica's hands, and kissing them. + +"But where were you all this time?" Dominica asked. + +"They locked me in the cabin, señorita! Miguel de Vasso it was! Serve +him right that he took a grievous knock on the head! But you?" + +"I am safe," Dominica answered. "But what will happen to us I know not. +The world's upside down, I believe." + +The man with the mustachios came into the room and revealed a spare +figure garbed in sober brown fustian. "Have no fear, señora," said this +worthy cheerfully. "You sail upon the _Venture_, and we do not harm +women. Faith of an Englishman!" + +"Who are you?" Dominica asked. + +"I," said the thin man, puffing out his chest, "am no less a person, +señora, than Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's own familiar servant, Joshua +Dimmock, at your orders. Ho, there! bring on the baggage!" This was +addressed to someone without. In a moment two younkers appeared laden, +and dumped down their burdens upon the floor. They lingered, gaping +at the lady, but Joshua waved his hands at them. "Hence, get hence, +numskulls!" He hustled them out, and shut the door upon them. "Please +you, noble lady, I will dispose." He looked upon the mountain of +baggage, laid a finger to his nose, skipped to the cupboard, and flung +it open. The raiment of Master Dangerfield was exposed to Maria's +titters. Joshua swooped, came away with an armful of doublets and hose, +and cast them into the alleyway outside the cabin. "Ho there! Avoid +me these trappings!" he commanded, and the two women heard footsteps +coming quickly in obedience to the summons. Joshua returned to the +cupboard and swept it bare, flung out the boots and the pantoffles that +stood ranged upon its floor, and stepped back to observe with pride the +barrenness of his creating. "So!" The chest caught his eye; he went to +it in a rush, lifted the lid, and clicked his tongue in impatience. He +seemed to dive into it head first. + +Dominica sat down on the cushioned seat to watch the surprising +gyrations of Master Dimmock. Maria knelt by her, clasping a hand still +in both of hers, and giggled under her breath. An indignant voice was +uplifted in the alleyway. "Who cast them here? That coystrill! Dimmock, +Joshua Dimmock, may the black vomit seize you! Master Dangerfield's +fine Venice hosen to lie in the dust! Come out, ye skinny rogue!" + +Joshua emerged from the chest with an armful of shirts and +netherstocks. The door was rudely opened; Master Dangerfield's servant +sought to make a hasty entrance, but was met on the threshold by +Joshua, who thrust the pile of linen into his arms, and drove him +out. "Avoid them! Avoid, fool! The noble lady hath this cabin. By the +General's orders, mark you! Hold your peace, wastrel! The Venice hose! +What's that to me? Make order there! Pick up that handruff, that boot, +those stocks! There are more shirts to come. Await me!" He came back, +spread his hands, and shrugged expressive shoulders. "Heed naught, +señora. A hapless fool. Master Dangerfield's man. We shall have all in +order presently." + +"I should not wish to turn Master Dangerfield from his cabin," Dominica +said. "Is there none other might house me?" + +"Most noble lady! Waste no moment's thought upon it!" Joshua said, +shocked. "Master Dangerfield, forsooth! A likely gentleman, I allow, +but a mere lad from the nursery. This mountain of raiment! Ho, the +young men! all alike! I dare swear a full score of shirts. Sir Nicholas +himself owns not so many." He threw the rest of Master Dangerfield's +wardrobe out of the cabin, and shut the door smartly upon the protests +of Master Dangerfield's man. + +Dominica watched the disposal of her baggage about the room. "I must +suppose you a man of worth," she said, gently satirical. + +"You may say so, indeed, señora. I am the servant of Sir Nicholas. I +have the ear. I am obeyed. Thus it is to be the lackey of a great man, +lady," Joshua answered complacently. + +"Oh, is this Sir Nicholas a great man by your reckoning?" + +"None greater, lady," said Joshua promptly. "I have served him these +fifteen years, and seen none to equal him. And I have been about the +world, mark you! Ay, we have done some junketting to and fro. I allow +you Sir Francis Drake to be a man well enough, but lacking in some +small matters wherein we have the advantage of him. His birth, for +example, will not rank with ours. By no means! Raleigh? Pshaw! he lacks +our ready wit: we laugh in his sour countenance! Howard? A fig for +him! I say no more, and leave you to judge. That popinjay, Leicester? +Bah! A man of no weight. We, and we alone have never failed in our +undertakings. And why, you ask? Very simply, señora: we reck not! +The Queen's grace said it with her own august lips. 'God's death,' +quoth she--her favourite oath, mark you!--'God's Death, Sir Nicholas, +you should take _Reck Not_ to be your watchword!' With reason, most +gracious lady! Certain, we reck not. We bite our glove in challenge to +whomsoever ye will. We take what we will: Beauvallet's way!" + +Maria sniffed, and cocked up her pert nose. Joshua looked severely. +"Mark it, mistress! I speak for both: we reck not." + +"He is a bold man," Dominica said, half to herself. + +Joshua beamed upon her. "You speak sooth, señora. Bold! Ay, a very +panther. We laugh at fear. That's for lesser men. I shall uncord these +bundles, gracious lady, so it please you." + +"What is he? What is his birth?" Dominica asked. "Is he base or noble?" + +Joshua bent a frown of some dignity upon her. "Would I serve one who +was of base birth, señora? No! We are very nobly born. The knighthood +was not needed to mark our degree. An honour granted upon our return +from Drake's voyage round the world. I allow it to have been due, but +we needed it not. Sir Nicholas stands heir to a barony, no less!" + +"So!" said Dominica with interest. + +"Ay, and indeed. He is own brother to Lord Beauvallet. A solid man, +señora, lacking our wits, maybe, but a comfortable wise lord. He looks +askance at all this trafficking upon the high seas." Joshua forgot +for a moment his rôle of admiring and faithful servant. "Well he may! +Rolling up and down the world, never at rest--it is not fit! We are no +longer boys to delight in hare-brained schemes and chancy ventures. But +what would you? A madness is in us; we must always be up and about, +nosing out danger." He rolled up the cords he had untied. "I leave +you, señora, Ha! we cast off!" He hopped to the porthole, and peered +out. "In good time: that hulk is done. I go now to see the noble señor +safely housed. By your leave, señora!" + +"Where is my father?" Dominica asked. + +"Hard by, señora. You may rap on this bulkhead, and he will hear. +Mistress----" he looked austerely at Maria--"see to the noble lady!" + +"Impudence!" Maria cried. But the door had shut behind Joshua Dimmock. + +"An oddity," said Dominica. "Well--like master, like man." She went +to the port, and stood on tiptoe to look out. The waves were hissing +round the sides of the _Venture_. "I cannot see our ship. That man said +she was done." She came away from the port. "And so here we are, upon +an English ship, and in an enemy's power. What shall come of it, I +wonder?" She did not seem to be disturbed. + +"Let them dare to touch you!" Maria said, arms akimbo. "I am not locked +in my cabin twice, señorita!" She abandoned the fierce attitude, and +began to unpack my lady's baggage. She shook out a gown of stiff +crimson brocade, and sighed over it. "Alas, the broidered taffety that +I had in my mind for you to wear this night!" she lamented. + +Dominica smiled secretly. "I will wear it," she said. + +Maria stared. "Your finest gown to be wasted on a party of English +pirates! Now if it were Don Juan----" + +Dominica was impatient suddenly. "Don Juan! A fool! A beaten braggart! +He strutted, and swore he would sink this ship to the bottom of the +sea, and take the great Beauvallet a prisoner to Spain! I hate a man to +be beaten! Lay out the gown, girl. I will wear it, and the rubies too." + +"Never say so, señorita!" cried Maria in genuine horror. "I have your +jewels safe hid in my bosom. They would tear them from your neck!" + +"The rubies!" Dominica repeated. "We are here as the guests of El +Beauvallet, and I vow we will play the part right royally!" + +There was a soft scratching on the door, and Don Manuel came in. "Well, +my child?" he said, and looked around him with approval. + +Doña Dominica waved her hand. "As you see, señor, I am very well. And +you?" + +He nodded, and came to sit beside her. "They house us snugly enough. +There is a strange creature giving orders to my man at this moment. He +says he is El Beauvallet's lackey. I do not understand these English +servants, and the license they have. The creature talks without pause." +He drew his gown about his knees. "We labour with the unexpected," he +complained, and looked gravely at his daughter. "The commander bids us +to supper. We shall not forget, Dominica, that we sail as guests upon +this ship." + +"No," said Dominica doubtfully. + +"We shall use Sir Nicholas with courtesy," added Don Manuel. + +"Yes, señor," said Dominica, more doubtfully still. + +An hour later Joshua came once more to her door. Supper awaited her, +he said, and bowed her down the alleyway to the stateroom. She went +regally, and rubies glowed on her bosom. The dull red of her stiff gown +made her skin appear the whiter; she carried a fan of feathers in her +hand, and had a wired ruff of lace sewn over with jewels behind her +head. + +The stateroom was low-pitched, lit by two lamps hung on chains from +the thick beams above. On the bulkhead opposite the door arms were +emblazoned, arms crossed with the bar sinister, and with a scroll +round the base, bearing the legend _Sans Peur_. A table was spread in +the middle of the room, and there were high-backed chairs of Spanish +make set round it. Beside one of these was standing Master Dangerfield, +point-de-vice in a bombasted doublet of grograine, and the famous +Venice hosen. He bowed and blushed when he saw Dominica, and was eager +to set a chair for her. + +She had no quarrel with Dangerfield; she smiled upon him, enslaved +him straightway, and sat her down at the table, unconcernedly fanning +herself. + +There was a cheerful voice uplifted without, a strong masculine voice +that had a ringing quality. One might always know when Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet approached. + +He came in, apparently cracking some jest, escorting Don Manuel. + +Dominica surveyed him through her lashes. Even in dinted armour, with +his hair damp with sweat, and his hands grimed with powder he had +appeared to her personable. She saw him now transformed. + +He wore a purple doublet, slashed and paned, with great sleeves slit to +show stitched linen beneath. A high collar clipped his throat about, +and had a little starched ruff atop. Over it jutted his beard: none +of your spade beards, this, but a rare stiletto, black as his close +hair. He affected the round French hosen, puffed about the thighs, and +the netherstocks known in England as Lord Leicester's, since only a +man with as good a leg as his might reasonably wear them. There were +rosettes upon his shoon, and knotted garters, rich with silver lace, +below his knees. Starched handruffs were turned back from his wrists; +he wore a jewel on one long finger, and about his neck a golden chain +with a scented pomander hanging from it. + +He entered, and his quick glance took in Dominica at the table. He +swept her a bow, and showed his even white teeth in a smile that was +boyish and swift, and curiously infectious. "Well, met, señora! Has my +rogue seen to your comfort? A chair for Don Manuel, Diccon!" The room +seemed to be full of Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, a forceful presence. + +"I am ashamed to have stolen Señor Dangerfield's cabin from him," +Dominica said, with a pretty smile bestowed upon Richard. + +He stammered a disclaimer. It was an honour, a privilege. Dominica, +choosing to ignore Beauvallet at the head of the table, pursued a +halting conversation with Dangerfield, exerting herself to captivate. +No difficult task this: the lad looked with eyes of shy admiration +already. + +"A strange, whimsical fellow ordered everything, señor," she said. "I +cry pardon: it was not I threw your traps out on to the alleyway! I +hope the master was not so incensed as was the man?" + +Dangerfield smiled. "Ay, that would be Joshua, señora. My man's a fool, +a dolt. He is greatly enraged against Joshua. You must understand, +señora, that Joshua is an original. I dare say he boasted to you of Sir +Nicholas' exploits--always coupling himself with his master?" + +Dominica had nothing to say to this. Dangerfield plodded on. "It is his +way, but I believe he is the only one of our company who takes it upon +himself to censure his master. To the world he says that Sir Nicholas +is second only to God; to Sir Nicholas' self he says----" he broke +off, and turned a laughing, quizzical look on his chief. + +Sir Nicholas turned his head; Dominica had not thought that he was +attending. "Ah, to Sir Nicholas' self he says what Sir Nicholas' +dignity will not permit him to repeat," said Beauvallet, smiling. +He turned back to Don Manuel, who had broken off in the middle of a +sentence. + +"Your servant did not seem to hold him in so great esteem as he holds +himself, señor," said Dominica. + +"Ah, no, señora, but then he threw my clothes out into the alley." + +"I doubt it was dusty," Dominica said demurely. + +"Do not let Sir Nicholas hear you say that, señora," Dangerfield +answered gaily. + +By a half smile that was certainly not conjured up by her father's +conversation Dominica saw that Sir Nicholas was still attending. + +Meat was set before the lady, breast of mutton served with a sauce +flavoured with saffron. There was a pasty beside, and a compost of +quinces. She fell to, and continued to talk to Master Dangerfield. + +Don Manuel tried more than once to catch his daughter's eye, but he +failed, and was forced to pursue his conversation with Sir Nicholas. +"You have a well-found vessel, señor," he remarked courteously. + +"My own, señor." Beauvallet picked up a flagon of wine. "I have here an +Alicante wine, señor, or a Burgundy, if you should prefer it. Or there +is Rhenish. Say but the word!" + +"You are too good, señor. The Alicante wine, I thank you." He observed +that his cup was of Moorish ware, much used in Spain, and raised his +brows at it. Delicately he forbore comment. + +"You remark my cups, señor?" said Beauvallet, lacking a like delicacy. +"They come out of Andalusia." He saw a slight stiffening on the part of +his guest, and his eyes twinkled. "Nay, nay señor, they never were upon +a Spanish galleon. I bought them upon my travels, years ago." + +He threw Don Manuel into some discomfort. Don Manuel made haste to turn +the subject. "You know my country, señor?" + +"Why yes, a little," Beauvallet acknowledged. He looked at Dominica's +averted face. "May I give you wine, señora?" + +So rapt in conversation with Dangerfield was the lady that it seemed +she did not hear. Beauvallet watched her a moment in some amusement, +then turned to Don Manuel. "Do you suppose, señor, that your daughter +will take wine from my hands?" + +"Dominica, you are addressed!" Don Manuel said sharply. + +She gave an admirable start, and turned. "Señor?" She encountered +Beauvallet's eyes, brimful with laughter. "Your pardon, señor?" He held +out a cup in his long fingers. She took it from him, and turned it in +her hand. "Ah, did this come from the _Santa Maria_?" she asked, mighty +innocent. + +Don Manuel blushed for his daughter's manners, and made a deprecatory +sound. But Beauvallet's shoulders shook. "I had these quite honestly, +señora." + +Dominica appeared surprised. + +Supper wore on its way. Don Manuel, shocked at the perversity of his +daughter in bestowing all her attention on Dangerfield, began to talk +to the young man himself, and successfully ousted Dominica from the +conversation. She bit her lip with vexation, and became absorbed in the +contemplation of a dish of marchpane. At her left hand Beauvallet lay +back in his chair, and played idly with his pomander. Dominica stole +a sidelong glance at him, found his eyes upon her, wickedly teasing +under the down-dropped lids, and flushed hotly. She began to nibble at +a piece of marchpane. + +Sir Nicholas let fall his pomander, and sat straight in his chair. His +hand went to his belt; he drew his dagger from the sheath. It was a +rich piece, with a hilt of wrought gold and a thin, flashing blade. +He leaned forward, and presented the hilt to the lady. "I make you a +present of it, señora," he said in a humble voice. + +Dominica flung up her head at that, and tried to push the dagger away. +"I do not want it." + +"Oh, but surely!" + +"You are pleased to mock me, señor. I have no need of your dagger." + +"But you would like so much to kill me," Sir Nicholas said softly. + +Dominica looked at him indignantly. He was abominable, and to make +matters the more insupportable he had a smile that set a poor maid's +heart in a flutter. "You laugh at me. Take your fill of it, señor: I +shall not heed your sneers," she said. + +"I?" Beauvallet said, and shot out a hand to grasp her wrist. "Now look +me boldly in the face and tell me if I sneer at you!" + +Dominica looked instead toward her father, but he had turned his +shoulder, and was descanting to Master Dangerfield upon the works of +Livy. + +"Come!" insisted the tormentor. "What, afraid?" + +Stung, she looked up. Defiance gleamed in her eyes. Sir Nicholas +kept his steadily upon her, raised her hand to his lips, kissed it +fleetingly, and held it still. "You will know me better one day," he +said. + +"I've no ambition for it," Dominica answered, but without truth. + +"Have you not? Have you not indeed?" His fingers tightened about her +wrist; there was a brilliant look of inquiry before he let her go. It +disturbed her oddly; the man had no right to such bright, challenging +eyes. + +A silence fell between them. Don Manuel, absorbed in his topic, had +passed on to the poet Horace, and was inflicting quotations upon Master +Dangerfield. + +"What came to Don Juan, señor?" asked Dominica, finding the silence +oppressive. + +"I suppose him to be steering for the island of your name, señora," +Sir Nicholas replied, and cracked a nut between finger and thumb. The +problems besetting Don Juan seemed to hold no interest for him. + +"And Señor Cruzada? And the rest?" + +"I did not send him alone, señora," said Beauvallet, one eyebrow +lifting humorously. "I suppose Señor Cruzada, whomsoever he may be, to +be of his company." + +The lady selected another fragment of marchpane from the dish, and +refused an offer of Hippocras to drink with it. She looked pensive. +"You give quarter then, you English?" + +"God's Life, did you suppose otherwise?" + +"I did not know, señor. They tell strange tales of you in the Indies." + +"It seems so indeed." He looked amused. "Am I said to burn, torture, +and slay, señora?" + +She met his gaze gravely. "You are a hardy man, señor. There are those +who say you use witchcraft." + +He flung back his head and laughed out at that. Don Manuel was +startled, and broke off in the middle of a line, to the relief of +Master Dangerfield, a-nod over his wine. "The only craft I use is +seacraft, señora," Beauvallet said. "I wear no charms, but I was born, +so they tell me, when Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction. A happy +omen! All honour to them!" He raised his cup to these planets, and +drank to them. + +"Alchemy is a snare, as also astrology," said Don Manuel sternly. "I +regard the tenets of Paracelsus as pernicious, señor, but I believe +they are much studied and thought of in England. A creed both absurd +and heretical! Why, I have heard a man doubt but that his neighbour +was born under the sign of Sagittarius for no better reason than that +he had a ruddy cheek, or a chestnut beard. Likewise you will meet +those who will not stir beyond their doors without they have a piece +of coral about them, or a sapphire to give them courage, or some other +such toys, fit only for children or infidels. Then you will hear talk +of the sky's division into Houses, this one governing such-and-such a +thing, and that some other. A silly conceit, obtaining credulity of the +foolish." Thus Don Manuel disposed of Paracelsus, very summarily. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + +The second day was very bright, with a hot sun beating down upon the +sea, and a stiff breeze blowing to fill the sails. Don Manuel remained +below on his bunk, worn and shaken by the agitations and exertions of +the previous day. He made a poor breakfast of sops dipped in wine, and +sent his daughter from him. He shook with fever, and complained of the +headache. Hovering assiduously about him was his own man, Bartolomeo, +but he had also Joshua Dimmock to attend to his wants. This was done +mighty expertly. Joshua discoursed learnedly on several fevers, and, +not sharing Don Manuel's views on the Chaldean creed, prescribed the +wearing of some chips from a gallows as a certain cure. These he +produced from somewhere about his person, and expatiated fervently +upon their magical properties. Don Manuel waved them testily aside, +but consented to drink a strong cordial, which, he was assured, came +straight from the stillroom of my Lady Beauvallet herself, a dame +well-versed in these mysteries. + +"A sure potion, señor, as I have proved," Joshua told him, "containing +julep and angelica, a handful of juniper-berries, and betony, as also +mithridate (so I believe), not to mention wormwood, which the world +knows to be very potent against all manner of fevers. The whole, noble +señor, steeped in a spirit of wine by my lady's own hands, and sealed +up tightly, as you perceive. Deign only to test of its values!" + +Don Manuel drank off the cordial, and was assured of a speedy +recovery. But Joshua shook his head secretly over the case, and told +Sir Nicholas, in his private ear, that he carried a dying man aboard +the _Venture_. + +"I know it," Beauvallet said briefly. "If I read well the signs the +_cameras de sangre_ is in him." + +"I observed it, sir. At a glance, you would say. His man--a lank, +melancholic fool if ever I saw one!--stands prating of quotidian +fevers, but no, quoth I, say rather the _cameras de sangre_, dolt. I +shall poke out the folds of the ruff, please you, sir." He performed +this office for Sir Nicholas, and stood back to regard his handiwork. +The poking-stick was levelled at Sir Nicholas next by way of emphasis. +"Moreover, master, and mark you well! it is not to be considered a +favourable omen. By no means! A death portends disaster. I do not +speak of such willy-nilly deaths as might chance in battle. That is +understood. A lingering sickness is another and quite different matter. +We must set the worthy señor ashore with all speed." + +"How now! What's this, rogue?" demanded Beauvallet, lying back in his +chair. "Set him ashore where and for what?" + +"I judge the Canaries to be a convenient spot, sir. The reason is made +clear: he must die upon land--or at least upon another ship than ours. +We need not concern ourselves with that." He ducked quickly to avoid a +boot hurled at his head. + +"Cullion!" Beauvallet apostrophised him. "Curb that prattling cheat of +yours! We set the gentleman ashore in Spain. Mark that!" + +Joshua picked up the boot, and knelt to help Sir Nicholas put it on, no +whit abashed. "I shall take leave to say, master, that this is to put +our heads in a noose again." + +"Be sure yours will end there one day," said Sir Nicholas cheerfully. + +"As to that, sir, _I_ do not go roystering up and down the world, +sacking and plundering," replied Joshua, entirely without venom. "A +gentle thrust, sir, and we have the boot on. So!" He smoothed a wrinkle +from the soft Cordovan leather, and held ready the second boot. "You +are to understand, sir, that it is no matter to me, for it was clearly +proved in the reading of my horoscope that I should die snug in my bed. +It would be well to have your horoscope cast, master, that we may know +what to beware of." + +"Beware your bed, dizzard, and get you hence!" Beauvallet recommended. +"You tempt me overmuch." He made a short, suggestive movement of his +arched foot. + +"That, master," said Joshua philosophically, "is as may be, and at your +worship's pleasure. I do not gainsay you have the right. But I shall +take leave to say withal that this junketting upon the high seas with a +wench aboard--nay two----" + +"What?" Beauvallet roared, and jerked himself upright in his chair. + +Joshua's shrewd grey eyes widened. "Oho! Pardon, sir, a lady was the +word. But it's all the same, by your good leave, or rather worse, if +the wind sits in that quarter with you. However, I say nothing. But +it's against all custom and proper usage, and I misdoubt me an evil +chance may befall." + +Beauvallet fell to stroking his pointed beard, seeing him at which +significant trick Joshua backed strategically to the door. "An evil +chance will without any doubt at all shortly befall you, my friend," +said Sir Nicholas, and came to his feet, "At the toe of my boot!" + +"If that is your humour, sir, I withdraw with all speed," said Joshua +promptly, and retired nimbly. + +Beauvallet swung out in his wake, and went up on deck to oversee an +inventory of the _Santa Maria's_ cargo in the waist. + +Thus Doña Dominica, when she came up on deck to take the air, chanced +upon a sight that made her curl her lip, and lift her chin. She +wandered to the quarterdeck and stood looking down into the waist, +where bales of cloth were lying, and where ingots were being weighed +upon a rough scale. Master Dangerfield had a sheet of paper and an +inkhorn upon an upturned cask, and wrote carefully thereon while a +stout, hairy fellow called weights and numbers. Near him, upon another +cask, lounged Beauvallet, with a hand on his hip, and a booted leg +swinging. His attention was held by what was going forward about him; +he did not observe my lady upon the deck above. + +You are to know that this seeming piracy was a sort of licensed affair, +a guerilla warfare waged upon King Philip II of Spain, who certainly +provoked it. Englishmen had a lively hatred of Spain, induced by a +variety of causes. There was, many years ago, the affair of Sir John +Hawkins at San Juan de Ulloa, an instance of Spanish treachery that +would not soon be forgot; there was grim persecution at work in the +Low Countries which must make any honest man's blood boil; and a Holy +Inquisition in Spain that had swallowed up in hideous manner many +stout sailormen captured on English vessels. If you wished to seek +farther you had only to observe the way Spain used towards the natives +of the Indies. It should suffice you. On top of all there was the +abundant pride of Spain, who chose to think herself mistress of the +Old World and the New. It remained for Elizabeth, Queen of England by +God's Grace, to abate this overweening conceit. In this she was ably +assisted by such men as Drake, bluff, roaring man, and Beauvallet, his +friend; Frobisher and Gilbert; Davis and the Hawkins, father, sons, and +grandson. They put forth into Spanish waters without misgiving, and +harried King Philip mightily. They laboured under a belief--and you +could not rid them of it--that one Englishman was worth a round dozen +of Spaniards. Events proved them to be justified in their belief. + +Nicholas Beauvallet, a younger son, spent the restlessness of his youth +in wanderings upon the Continent, as befitted his station. He left his +England a boy overflowing with such a spirit of dare-devilry that his +father and his elder brother prophesied it would lead him to disaster. +He came back to it a man seasoned and tried, but it was not to be seen +that the dare-devilry had departed from him. His brother, succeeding +to their father's room, shook a grave head, and called him Italianate, +a ruffler, a veritable swashbuckler, and wondered that he would not be +still. Nicholas refused to fulfil his family's expectations. He must be +off on his adventures again. He went to sea; he made some little noise +about the New World, and in due course accompanied Drake on his voyage +round the world. With that master mariner he passed the Straits of +Magellan, saw the sack of Valparaiso, reached the far Pelew Islands, +and Mindanao, and came home round the perilous Cape of Storms, bronzed +of face, and hard of muscle, and rich beyond the dreams of man. + +This was well enough, no doubt, but Gerard Beauvallet, a sober man, +judged it time to be done with such traffickings. Nicholas had won +an honourable knighthood; let him settle down now, choose a suitable +bride, and provide the heirs that came not to my Lady Beauvallet. +Instead of this, incorrigible Nicholas had sailed away, after the +briefest of intervals, this time in a ship of his own. So far from +conducting himself like a respectable landowner, such as his brother +wished him to be, he seemed to be concerned only to make a strong noise +about the world. This he did with complete success. There was only one +Drake, but also there was only one Beauvallet. The Spaniards coupled +the two names together, but made of Beauvallet a kind of devil. Drake +performed the impossible in the only possible way; the Spaniards said +that El Beauvallet performed it in an impossible way, and feared him +accordingly. As for his own men, they held him in some affection, and +believed firmly in his luck and in his genius. They thought him clearly +mad, but his madness was profitable, and they had long ceased to wonder +at anything he might take it into his head to do. They might be trusted +to follow where he led, knowing by experience that he would not lead +them to disaster. His master, Patrick Howe, of bearded mien, would wag +a solemn finger. "Look you, we win because our Nick cannot fail. He is +bird-eyed for opportunity, and blind to danger, and he laughs his way +out of every peril we come to. Mad? Ay, you may say so." + +The truth was that Sir Nicholas would swoop lightning-swift into some +hare-brained emprise and be off again victorious while you stood a-gape +at his hardihood. + +Thus with his sweeping off of Doña Dominica, before she had time to +fetch her breath. And all with no more than a careless snap of the +fingers, as it were. Oh, a hardy fellow, God wot! + +Dominica thought of all this as she stood looking down at him now, +and since Beauvallet paid no heed to her, nor ever looked up towards +the deck where she stood she presently gave vent to a scornful little +laugh, and remarked to the chasing clouds:--"A merchant, counting +stolen goods!" + +Beauvallet looked quickly up. The sun was on his uncovered head, and in +his blue eyes; he put up a hand to shade them. "My Lady Disdain! Give +you a thousand good-morrows!" + +"The morrow will not be good while I am upon such a ship as this," she +said provocatively. + +"Now what's amiss?" demanded Sir Nicholas, and sprang down from the +cask. "What ails the ship?" + +He was halfway up the companion, which was maybe what she wanted, but +she would not have him know that. "Pray you, stay below amongst your +gains, señor." + +He was beside her on the deck now, swung a leg over the rail, and sat +there like some careless boy. "What's amiss?" he repeated. "More dust +in the alleyway?" + +She gave the smallest of sniffs. "There is this amiss, señor, that this +is a pirate vessel, and you are mine enemy!" + +"That in your teeth, my lass!" he said gaily. "I am no enemy of yours." + +She tried to look witheringly upon him, but it seemed to have no +effect. "You are the declared enemy of all Spaniards, señor, and well I +know it." + +"But I have it in mind, sweetheart, to make an Englishwoman of you," +said Beauvallet frankly. + +She was fairly taken aback. She gasped, flushed, and clenched her +little hands. + +"Now where's that dagger?" said Beauvallet, watching her in some +amusement. + +She flounced round on her heel, and swept away to the poop. She was +outraged and speechless, but she could still wonder whether he would +follow. She need have been in no doubt. He let her gain the poop, out +of sight of his men, and came up with her there. He set his hands on +her shoulders, and twisted her round to face him. The teasing light +went out of his eyes, and his voice was softened. "Lady, you called +me a mocker, but for once I do not jest. Hear my solemn promise! I +will make you an Englishwoman before a year is gone by. And so seal my +bond." He bent his handsome head quickly, and kissed her lips before +she could stop him. + +She cried out indignantly, and her hands flew to avenge the insult. But +he had her measure, and was ready for the swift reprisal. She found her +hands caught and imprisoned, and his face close above hers, smiling +down into her angry eyes. "Will you rate me for a knave, or pity me for +a poor mad fellow?" said Sir Nicholas, teasing again. + +"I hate you!" she said, and spoke with some passion "I despise you, and +I hate you!" + +He let her go. "Hate me? But why?" + +She brushed her hand across her lips, as though she would brush his +kiss away. "How dared you----!" she choked. "Hold me--kiss me! Oh, +base! It's to insult me!" She fled towards the companion leading down +to the staterooms. + +He was before her, barring the way. "Hold, child! Here's some tangle. I +would wed you. Did I not say it?" + +She stamped, tried to push past him, and failed. "You will never wed +me!" she defied him. "You are ungenerous, base! You hold me prisoner, +and do as you will with me!" + +He had her fast indeed, with his hands gripping her arms above the +elbows. He shook her slightly. "Nay nay, there's no talk of prisoners +or of goalers, Dominica, but only of a man and a maid. What harm have I +done you?" + +"You forced me! You dared to kiss me, and held me powerless!" + +"I cry pardon. But you may stab me with mine own dagger, sweeting. See, +it is ready to your hand. A swift, sure revenge! No? What will you have +me do, then?" His hands slid down her arms to her wrists; he bent, and +kissed her fingers. "There! let it be forgot--until I kiss you again." +That was said with a quick whimsical glance, daringly irrepressible. + +"That will be never, señor." + +"And so she flings down her gauntlet. I pick it up, my lady, and will +give you a Spanish proverb for answer:--_Vivir para ver!_" + +"You will scarcely wed me by force," she retorted. "Even you!" + +He considered the point. "True, child, that were too easy a course." + +"I warrant you would not find it so!" + +"Marry, is it yet another challenge?" he inquired. + +She drew back a pace. "You would not!" + +"Nay, have I not said I will not? Be at ease, ye shall have a royal +wooing." + +"And where will you woo me?" she asked scornfully. "My home is in the +very heart of Spain, I'd have you know." + +"Be sure I shall follow you there," he promised, and laughed to see her +face of incredulous wonder. + +"Braggart! Oh, idle boaster! How should you dare?" + +"Look for me in Spain before a year is out," he answered. "My hand upon +it." + +"There is a Holy Inquisition in Spain, señor," she reminded him. + +"There is, señora," he said rather grimly, and produced from out his +doublet a book bound in leather. "And it is like to have you in its +clutches if you keep such dangerous stuff as this about you, my lass," +he said. + +She turned pale, and clasped her hands nervously at her bosom. "Where +found you that?" The breath caught in her throat. + +"In your cabin aboard the _Santa Maria_, child. If that is the mind you +are in the sooner I have you safe out of Spain the better for you." +He gave the book into her hands. "Hide it close, or sail with me to +England." + +"Do not tell my father!" she said urgently. + +"Why, can you not trust me? Oh, unkind!" + +"I suppose it is no affair of yours, señor," she said, recovering her +dignity. "I thank you for my book. Now let me pass." + +"I have a name, child. I believe I made you free of it." + +She swept a curtsey. "Oh, I thank you--Sir Nicholas Beauvallet!" she +mocked, and fled past him down the companion. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + +Doña Dominica thought it imperative that Beauvallet's impudence should +be suitably punished, and took it upon herself to perform this pious +office. Master Dangerfield was a tool ready to her hand; she sought +him out, cast a thrall about that susceptible lad, and flirted with +him, somewhat to his embarrassment. She brought her long eyelashes into +play, the minx, was all honey to him, and flattered the vanity of the +youthful male. She used a distant courtesy towards Beauvallet, listened +when he spoke to her, folded meek hands in her lap, and turned back to +Master Dangerfield at the first chance. Beauvallet had stately curtseys +and cool impersonalities from her; she let it be clearly seen that +Dangerfield could have if he chose a hand to kiss, her smiles, and her +chatter. Master Dangerfield was duly grateful, but showed a lamentable +tendency to set her high upon a pedestal. At another time this might +have pleased her, but she had now no mind to play the goddess. She was +at pains to show Master Dangerfield that he might dare to venture a +little further. + +But all this strategy failed of its object. Doña Dominica, out of +the tail of her eye, saw with indignation the frank amusement of Sir +Nicholas. Beauvallet stood back and watched the play with a laughing, +an appreciative eye. The lady redoubled her efforts. + +She was forced to admit Dangerfield dull sport, and chid herself for +hankering after the livelier company of his General. With him one +met the unexpected; there was a spice of risk to savour the game, an +element of adventure to whet the appetite. She would come up with +Dangerfield on the deck, stand at his side and ask him questions +innumerable upon the sailing of a ship, and appear to listen rapt to +his conscientious answers. But all the time she had a quick ear and a +vigilant eye for Sir Nicholas, and when she heard his ringing voice, or +saw him come with his quick light step across the deck she would feel +her pulses beat the faster, and dread a rising blush. Nor could she +ever withstand the force in him that compelled her to meet his look. +She might fight against it, but soon or late she must steal a glance +towards him, and find his eyes, brimful of laughter, upon her, his +hands lightly laid on his hips, his feet firmly planted and wide apart, +mockery in his every line. + +Since pride forbade her to give him her company she found a certain +solace in talking of him to his lieutenant. Master Dangerfield was +willing enough, but he was shocked to hear what an ill opinion she had +of the hero. He could allow that Sir Nicholas had maybe too boisterous +and reckless a way to suit a lady's taste, but when Dominica poured +more scorn upon Beauvallet the boy was moved to protest. It was likely +that she wanted this. + +"I marvel that you breed such ruffling bullies in England, señor," she +said, nose in air. + +"A bully?" Dangerfield echoed. "Sir Nicholas? Why, I believe you must +not say so aboard this ship, señora." + +"Oh, I am not afraid!" Dominica declared. + +"You have little need to be, señora. But you speak to Sir Nicholas' +lieutenant. Maybe we who serve under him know him better." + +At that she opened her eyes very wide indeed. "What, are you all +besotted then? Do you like the man so well?" + +He smiled down at her. "Most men like him, señora. He is very much--a +man, you see." + +"Very much a braggart," she corrected, curling her lip. + +"No, señora, indeed. I allow he has the manner. But I have never known +him promise what he has not performed. If you knew him better----" + +"Oh, spare me, señor! Wish me no better knowledge of your bully." + +"Maybe he is too swift for you. He goes too straight towards his goal +for a lady's taste, and uses no subtleties." + +She pounced on that, and put the question that had long hovered on her +tongue. "I take it your English ladies think as I think, señor?" + +"Nay, I believe they like him very well," Dangerfield replied, smiling +a little. "Too well for his desires." + +Dominica saw the smile. "I make no doubt he is a great trifler." + +Dangerfield shook his head. "Nay, he is merry in his dealings, but I +believe he will stay for no woman." + +Dominica spent a moment pondering that. Dangerfield plodded on +painstakingly. "I would not have you think though that he holds women +in poor esteem, señora. Indeed, I think he is gentle with your sex." + +"Gentle!" the lady ejaculated. "I marvel you can say so! A rough fellow +I have found him! A boisterous, rough fellow!" + +"You have naught to fear from him, señora," Dangerfield said seriously. +"On my honour, he would not offer hurt to one weaker than himself." + +Dominica was affronted. "I fear him? Señor, know that I do not fear him +or anyone!" she announced fiercely. + +"Brave lass!" applauded a voice behind her. Dominica jumped, and turned +to see Beauvallet lounging against the bulwarks. He held out his hand +invitingly. "Then since you have no fear of him, come and talk with the +boisterous, rough fellow." + +Master Dangerfield beat a discreet retreat, and basely left the lady +alone. She tapped a slender foot on the deck. "I do not wish to talk +with you, señor." + +"I am not a señor, child." + +"True, Sir Nicholas." + +"Come!" he insisted, and his eyes were bright and searching. + +"Not at your bidding, Sir Nicholas," said Dominica haughtily. + +"At my most humble prayer!" But his look belied the words. + +"I thank you, I am very well where I am," Dominica said, and turned her +shoulder. + +"The mountain would not. Well, there was a sequel." He was at her side +in two steps, and instinctively she drew back in some kind of enjoyable +alarm. He frowned quickly at that, and set his hands on her shoulders. +"Why do you shrink? Do you think I would offer you hurt indeed?" + +"No--that is, I do not know at all, señor, and nor do I care!" + +"Brave words, but still you shrank. What, do you know so little of me +even now? You shall be better acquainted with me, I promise you." + +"You are hurting me! Let me go!" + +He held her slightly away from him, and seemed to puzzle over her. "How +do I hurt you? By holding you thus?" + +"Your fingers grip me well-nigh to the bone," said Dominica crossly. + +He smiled. "I am not gripping you at all, sweetheart, and well you know +it." + +"Let me go!" + +"But if I do you will run away," he pointed out. + +"I wonder that you desire to talk to one who--who hates you!" + +"Not I, child. But you do not hate me." + +"I do! I do!" + +"God's Death, then, why do you play poor Diccon on your line to tease +me?" + +That was too much for the lady. She hit him, full across his smiling +mouth. + +It was no sooner done that she knew a frightened leap of the heart, an +instant regret, for he swooped quickly, caught her hands fast in his, +and locked them behind her back. She looked up, in part afraid, in part +defiant, and saw him laughing still. + +"Now what do you think you deserve of me?" Beauvallet asked. + +She had recourse to her strongest weapon, and burst into tears. She was +set free on the instant. + +"Sweetheart, sweetheart!" Beauvallet said remorsefully. "Here's no +matter for tears! What, am I so grim an ogre? I did but tease you, +child. Look up! Nay, but smile! See, I will kiss the very hem of your +gown! Only do not weep!" He was on his knee before her; she looked +down through her tears at his bent head, more shaken still, and heard +footsteps coming up the companion leading from the waist of the ship. +She touched Beauvallet's crisp hair fleetingly. "Oh, do not! One +comes--get up, get up!" + +He sprang up as his Master appeared at the head of the companion, and +stepped quickly forward to shield Dominica from this worthy's notice. + +It was easily possible now for her to escape below decks. Sir Nicholas' +attention was held by his Master; the way lay open to her. Doña +Dominica walked to the bulwarks, and carefully dried her eyes, and +stood looking out to sea. + +In a minute or two the Master's retreating steps sounded, and a lighter +footfall, nearer at hand. Beauvallet's fingers covered hers as they lay +on the rail. "Forgive the rough, boisterous fellow!" he begged. + +The tone won her; a dimple peeped, and was gone. "You use me +monstrously," complained Dominica. + +"But you do not hate me?" + +She left that unanswered. "I cannot find it in me to envy the lady you +take to wife," she said. + +"Nay, how should you?" + +She looked sharply up at that, blushed, and turned her face away. "I do +not know how the English ladies can bear with you, señor." + +He looked merrily down at her. "Why, I have not called upon them to +bear with me, señora." + +She faced him suddenly. "You will scarce have me believe you have not +trifled often and often!" she said hotly. "No doubt ye deem women of +small account!" + +"I do not deem you of small account, child." + +She smiled disdainfully. "You are mightily apt. Do you use this manner +with the English ladies, pray?" + +"Nay, sweetheart, this is the manner I use," Sir Nicholas answered, and +promptly kissed her. + +Dominica choked, pushed him violently away, and fled down the companion +to her cabin. She found her woman there, and was at once conscious of +a heightened colour, and ruffled hair. Maria, noting these portents +and the storm in her mistress' eyes, set her arms akimbo and looked +fiercely. "That bully!" she said darkly. "He has insulted you, +señorita? He dared to lay his hands on you?" + +Dominica was biting her handkerchief; her eyes looked this way and +that, and at the end she laughed uneasily. "He kissed me," she said. + +"I will tear the eyes from his head!" vowed Maria, and made for the +door. + +"Silly wench! Fond fool! Stay still!" Dominica commanded. + +"You shall not again stir forth without me to be your duenna, +señorita," promised Maria. + +Dominica stamped her foot. "Oh, blind! I wanted him to kiss me!" + +Maria's jaw dropped. "Señorita!" + +Dominica gave a tiny laugh. "He swears he will come into Spain to seek +me. If he but dared!" + +"Not even an Englishman would be fool enough, señorita." + +"Alack, no!" Dominica sighed. "But if he did--oh, I become infected +with his madness!" She lifted the tiny mirror that hung at her girdle, +and frowned at her own reflection. A pat here and a twist there, and +she had her curls demure again under the net. She let fall the mirror, +blushed to see Maria still wondering at her, and was off to visit her +father. + +She found Joshua Dimmock in the cabin, vociferous in defence of his +gallows' chips, which he believed, privately, might serve at least to +stave off Don Manuel's death until he was set safe ashore. + +Don Manuel looked wearily at his daughter. "Is there none to rid me of +this fool?" he said. + +Joshua tried the effect of coaxing. "See, señor, I have them safe tied +in a sachet. I bought them of a very holy man, versed in these matters. +If you would but wear them about your neck I might vouch for a certain +cure." + +"Bartolomeo, set wide that door," commanded Don Manuel. "Now, fellow, +depart from me!" + +"Most gracious señor----" + +Bartolomeo fell back from the open doorway, bowing. A voice that to +Dominica's fancy seemed to hold all the sunshine and the salt wind of +fine days at sea smote her ears. "What's this?" + +Sir Nicholas stood on the threshold. + +Don Manuel raised himself on his elbow. "Señor, in good time! Rid me of +your knave there, and his damnable chips from a gallows!" + +Beauvallet came quickly in, saw Joshua standing aggrieved by the side +of the bunk, and caught him by the nape of the neck, and with no more +ado hurled him forth. He kicked the door to behind him, and stood +looking down at Don Manuel. "Is there aught else I may do for you, +señor? You have but to name it." + +Don Manuel lay back against the pillows and smiled wrily. "You are +short in your dealings, señor." + +"But to the point, you'll allow. I am come to see how you do this +morning. The fever still hath you in its hold?" + +"A little." Don Manuel frowned a warning. Beauvallet turned his head to +observe the reason of this. Dominica was standing stiffly by the table. + +It seemed this abominable man must be everywhere at once. One's own +cabin was the only safe retreat. She moved stately to the door. +Bartolomeo went to open it, but was put aside by a careless hand. Sir +Nicholas held the door wide, and my lady went out with a quickened step. + +"You, too, Bartolomeo," Don Manuel said, and lay watching Beauvallet. +He fetched a stifled sigh. This handsome man with his springing step +and alert carriage seemed to the sick gentleman the very embodiment of +life and health. + +Beauvallet came to the bunk, and pulled a joint-stool forward, and sat +down upon it. "You want to speak with me, señor?" + +"I want to speak with you." Don Manuel plucked at the sheet that +covered him. "Señor, since first you brought us aboard this ship you +have not again spoken of our disposal." + +Beauvallet raised his brows quickly. "I thought I had made myself +plain, señor. I shall set you ashore on the northern coast of Spain." + +Don Manuel tried to read the face before him; the blue eyes looked +straightly; under the neat mustachio the mouth was firm and humorous. +If Beauvallet had secrets he hid them well under a frank exterior. "Am +I to believe you serious, señor?" + +"Never more so, upon my honour. Wherefore all this pother over a very +simple matter?" + +"Is it, then, so simple to put into a Spanish port, señor?" + +"To say truth, señor, your countrymen have not yet learned the trick of +capturing Nick Beauvallet. God send them a better education, cry you!" + +Don Manuel spoke gravely. "Señor, you are an enemy--a dangerous +enemy--to my country, yet, believe me, I should be sorry to see you +taken." + +"A thousand thanks, señor. You will certainly not see it. I was born in +a fortunate hour." + +"I have had enough of portents and omens, señor, from your servant. I +make bold to say that if you set us ashore in Spain you place your life +in jeopardy. And for what? It is madness! I can find no other name for +it." + +The firm lips parted; there was a gleam of white teeth. "Call it +Beauvallet's way, señor." + +Don Manuel said nothing, but lay still, watching his captor and host. +After a minute he spoke again. "You are a strange man, señor. For many +years I have heard wild tales of you, and believed, perhaps, a quarter +of them. You constrain me to lend ear to the wildest of them." He +paused, but Beauvallet only smiled again. "If, indeed, you speak in +good faith I stand infinitely beholden to you. Yet you might act in the +best of faith and fail of such a foolhardy endeavour." + +Sir Nicholas swung his pomander on the end of its chain. "God rest you, +señor: I shall not fail." + +"I pray in this instance you may not. It does not need for me to tell +you that my days are numbered. I would end them in Spain, señor." + +Beauvallet held up his hand. "My oath on it, señor. You shall end them +there," he said gently. + +Don Manuel stirred restlessly. "I must set my house in order, I leave +my daughter alone in the world. There is my sister. But the child had +traffickings with Lutherans, and I misdoubt me----" He broke off, +sighing. + +Beauvallet came to his feet. "Señor, give me ear a minute!" + +Don Manuel looked up at him, and saw him serious for once. "I attend, +señor." + +"When I approach my chosen goal, señor, I march straight. That you may +have heard of me. Let it go. I make you privy now to a new goal I have +sworn to reach, a fair prize. The day will come, Don Manuel, when I +shall take your daughter to wife." + +Don Manuel's eyelids fluttered a moment. "Do you tell me, señor, that +you love my daughter?" he asked sternly. + +"Madly, señor, I make no doubt you would say." + +Don Manuel looked more sternly still. "And she? No, it is not possible!" + +"Why, as to that, señor, I do not know. I am not over-apt with maids. +She will love me one day." + +"Señor, be plain with me. What is this riddle you propound?" + +"None, señor. Here is only the plain truth. I might bear Dominica away +to England, and thus constrain her----" + +"You would not!" Don Manuel cried out sharply. + +"Nay, I constrain no maid against her will, be assured. But you will +allow it to be clearly within my power." He paused, and his eyes +questioned. + +Don Manuel watched the swing of the golden pomander from long fingers, +looked higher, and met the imperative gaze. "We are in your hands I +know full well," he said evenly. + +Beauvallet nodded. "But that easy course is not the one I will take, +señor. Nor am I one to enact the part of ravisher, of betrayer. I will +take you to Spain, and there leave you. But, señor--and mark me well! +for what I swear I will do that I shall certainly do, though the sun +die and the moon fall, and the earth be wholly overset!--I shall come +later into Spain, and seek out your daughter, and ride away with her on +my saddle-bow!" His voice seemed to fill the room, vibrating with some +leaping passion. A moment he looked down at Don Manuel with a glint in +his eyes, and his beard jutting outwards with his lifted chin. Then the +fire left him as suddenly as it had sprung up, and he laughed softly, +and the glitter went out of his eyes. "Judge you by this, señor, if I +do truly love her as you would have her loved!" + +There was silence. Don Manuel turned his head away on the pillow and +brushed the sheet with one restless hand. "Señor," he said at last, "if +you were not an enemy and a heretic, I would choose to give my daughter +to just such a one as you." He smiled faintly at the quick surprise in +Beauvallet's face. "Ay, señor, but you are both these things, and it +is impossible. Impossible!" + +"Señor, a word I do not know. I have warned you. Take what precaution +you will, but whether you are quick or dead, I shall have your +daughter, in spite of anything you may do." + +"Sir Nicholas, you have a brave spirit, and that I like in you. I have +no need to take precautions, for you could never penetrate into Spain." + +"God be my witness, señor, I shall penetrate." + +"You must needs be forsworn, señor. At sea you may be a match for us, +but how might you dare face all Spain in Spain itself?" + +"I shall certainly dare, señor," said Sir Nicholas calmly. + +Don Manuel seemed to shrug his shoulders. "I see, señor, there is to be +no ho with you. You may be but an idle boaster, or a madman, as they +say--I know not. I could wish you were a Spaniard. There is no more to +say." + + + + + CHAPTER V + + +Don Manuel took an early opportunity of finding out, as he imagined, +what were his daughter's feelings. He asked her without preamble how +she liked Sir Nicholas. God knows what the poor gentleman thought to +get from her. + +"Very ill, señor," said she. + +"I fear me," said Don Manuel, closely watching her, "that he likes you +too well, child." + +Dominica perceived that she was being tested, and achieved a scornful +laugh. "Unhappy man! But it's an impertinence." + +Don Manuel was entirely satisfied. Liking Beauvallet well enough +himself he could even be sorry that his daughter had conceived so +vehement a distaste for him. "I am sorry that he is what he is," he +said. "I could find it in me to like a man of his mettle." + +"A boaster," said Dominica, softly scornful. + +"One would say so indeed. But before we set sail, Dominica, methought +you made some sort of a hero of him in your mind. You were always eager +to hear tell of his deeds." + +"I had not met him then, señor," Dominica answered primly. + +Don Manuel smiled. "Well, he is a wild fellow. I am glad you have sense +enough to see it. But use him gently, child, for we stand somewhat +beholden to him. He swears to set us ashore in Spain, and _madre de +dios_! I believe he will do it, though how I know not." + +The upshot of all this was to make Dominica curious to know +Beauvallet's plans. She tackled Master Dangerfield about it that very +evening as he played at cards with her in the stateroom, and demanded +to know what his general had in mind. Master Dangerfield professed +ignorance, and was not believed. "What!" said my lady, incredulous. "I +am not to suppose you are not in his confidence, señor, surely! It is +just that you will not tell me." + +"Upon my oath, señora, no!" Dangerfield assured her. "Sir Nicholas +keeps his counsel. Ask your question of him: he will tell you, I doubt +not." + +"Oh, I desire to have no traffic with him," said my lady, and applied +herself to the cards again. + +There came soon enough what she had hoped to hear: a bluff voice, a +brisk tread, a laugh echoing along the alleyway. The door was flung +open; Beauvallet came in, with a word tossed over his shoulder for +someone outside. "Save you, lady!" quoth he. "Diccon, there is a trifle +of business calls you. Give me your cards; I will endeavour." + +Dangerfield gave up his cards at once, and bowed excuses to the lady. +As always, Beauvallet left her without a word to say. Truth to tell she +was glad to have him in Dangerfield's stead, but why could he not ask +her permission? + +He sat down in Dangerfield's chair; Dangerfield, with his hand on the +door, paused to say, smiling: "Doña Dominica hath all the luck, sir, as +you shall find." + +"And you none, Diccon. I may believe it. But I will back myself against +her. Away with you." He flicked a card out from his hand, and smiled +across the table at Dominica. "To the death, lady!" + +Doña Dominica played to his lead in silence. He won the encounter at +length. She bit her lip, but took it with a good grace. "Yes, señor, +you win." She watched him playing with the cards, and folded her hands. +"I shall not pit my skill against yours." + +Sir Nicholas put down the pack. "Then let us talk a little," he said. +"It likes me much better. How does Don Manuel find himself?" + +A shadow crossed her face. "I think him very sick, señor. I have to +thank you for sending your surgeon to visit him." + +"No need of that." + +"My father tells me," Dominica said, "that you have sworn to set us +ashore in Spain. Pray, how may you accomplish that?" + +"Very simply," Sir Nicholas replied. He held his pomander to his nose, +and over it his eyes twinkled at her. + +"Well, señor, and how?" She was impatient. "I've no desire to witness +another fight at sea." + +"Nor shall you, fondling. What, do you suppose that Nick Beauvallet +would expose you to the risks Narvaez courted? Shame on you!" + +"Señor, are you so mad as to suppose that you can sail into a Spanish +port without a shot being fired?" + +"By no means, child. If I did so foolish a thing I might expect a +veritable hailstorm of shot about my head." He threw one leg over the +other, and continued to sniff at his pomander. + +"I see, señor, you have no mind to confide in me," said Dominica +stiffly. + +His shoulders shook. "Do I not answer your questions? You would know +more? Then ask me prettily, O my Lady Disdain!" + +Her eyes fell; she tried a change of front to see what might come of +it. "You have the right to flout me, señor. I am aware that I stand +beholden to you. Yet I think you might use me kindlier." + +The pomander fell. "Good lack!" said Beauvallet, startled. "What's +this?" He uncrossed his legs and stretched a hand to her across the +table. "Let there be no such talk betwixt us two, child. Ye stand in +no way beholden to me. Say that I do what I do to please myself, and +cry a truce!" The smile crept into his eyes. "Do I flout you? Now I had +thought that was your part." + +"I am helpless in your hands, señor," said Dominica mournfully. "If it +pleases you to make a mock of me you may do so without hindrance." + +This failed somewhat of its purpose. "Child, in a little I shall be +constrained to set you on my knee and kiss you," said Beauvallet. + +"I am helpless," she repeated, and would not look up. + +A quick frown came. He rose from his chair and came to kneel beside +hers. "Now what's your meaning, Dominica? Are you so cowed, so +submissive?" He caught a glimpse of the flash in her eyes and laughed. +"Oh, pretty cheat!" he said softly. "If I dared to touch you you would +be swift to strike." + +Her lip quivered irrepressibly; she looked through her lashes. He took +her hand and kissed it. "Well, what is it you would have me tell you?" +he asked. + +"If you please," she said meekly, "where will you set us ashore?" + +"Some few miles to the west of Santander, sweetheart. There is a +smuggling village there will receive us peaceably." + +"Smugglers!" She looked up. "Oh, so you are that, too? I might have +known." + +"Nay, nay, acquit me," he smiled. "Look scorn instead upon my fat +boatswain. His is the blame. He was for many years in the trade, and +I believe knows every smuggling port in Europe. We may sail softly in +under cover of night, set you ashore, and be gone again before dawn." + +There was a pause. Dominica looked up at the arms on the wall, and said +slowly: "And so ends the adventure." + +Sir Nicholas rose to his feet again. "Do you think so indeed?" + +She was grave. "In spite of brave words, señor, I think so. Once in +Spain I shall be free--free of you!" + +He set his hand on his hip; his other hand played with his beard. She +should have been wary, but she did not know him so well as did his men. +"Lady," said Beauvallet, and she jumped at the note of strong purpose +in his voice, "the first of my name, the founder of my house, had, so +we read, another watchword than that." His hand flew out and pointed +to the scroll beneath his arms. "There is an old chronicle writ by one +Alan, afterwards Earl of Montlice, wherein we learn that Simon, the +first Baron of Beauvallet, took as his motto these words: '_I have not, +but still I hold_.'" His voice rang out, and died again. + +"Well, señor?" faltered Dominica. + +"I have you not yet, but be sure I hold you," said Beauvallet. + +She rallied. "This is folly." + +"Sweet folly." + +"I do not believe that you would dare set foot in Spain." + +"God's Death, do you not? But if I dare, indeed?" + +She looked down at her clasped hands. + +"Come! If I dare? If I reach to you in Spain, and claim you then? What +answer shall I have?" + +She was flushed, and her breast rose and fell fast. "Ah, if there were +a man brave enough to dare so much for love----!" + +"He stands before you. What will you give him?" + +She got up, a hand at her bosom. "If he dared so much--I should have to +give--myself, señor." + +"Remember that promise!" he warned her. "You shall be called upon to +redeem it before a year is out." + +She looked fearfully at him. "But how? how?" + +"Dear heart," said Beauvallet frankly, "I do not know, but I shall +certainly find a way." + +"Oh, an idle boast!" she cried, and went quickly to the door. His voice +stayed her; she paused and looked back over her shoulder. "Well, señor, +what more?" + +"My pledge," Beauvallet said, and slipped a ring from his finger. "Keep +Beauvallet's ring until Beauvallet comes to claim it." + +She took it, half unwilling. "What need of this?" + +"No need, but to remind you, maybe. Keep it close." + +It had his arms engraven upon it, a gold piece, heavy and cunningly +wrought. "I will keep it always," she said, "to remind me of--a madman." + +He smiled. "Oh, not always, sweetheart! A pledge is sometimes +redeemed--even by a madman." + +"Not this one," she said on a sigh, and went out. + +It seemed to her in the days that followed that Spain drew near all too +soon. They had fair weather, and for the most part a favourable wind to +bear them home. The Canaries were reached in good time, and Dominica +saw adventure's end in sight. She was gentler now with her impetuous +wooer, but aloof still, refusing to believe him. She let him teach +her English words, and lisped them after him prettily. She forbore +to entangle Master Dangerfield in her wiles: time was too short and +romance too sweet. Maybe she would have been glad enough, saving only +her father's presence, to be borne off to England, a conqueror's prize, +but if she had doubted Beauvallet's good faith at first these doubts +were soon lulled. He meant certainly to take her to Spain. She had both +a sigh and a smile for that, but it is certain that she honoured him +for it. For the rest she might not know what to believe. The man talked +in a heroic vein, and seemed to be undisturbed by any doubt of his own +omnipotence. He would have a poor maid believe him little less than +God. Well, one was not so poor a maid as that. Maybe it pleased his +strange, braggart fancy to cut a fine figure; surely he would forget +just so soon as he set foot on English soil. + +Doña Dominica had to admit her heart assailed dangerously. A certain +smile haunted her dreams, and would not be banished. Yet he was a +hardy rogue, surely. She could not say what there was in him to seize +her fancy; he used no courtier tricks, no elegant subtleties. You +would have no dropped knee, no sighs, no fashionable languishings from +Beauvallet. He would have an arm about a maid's waist before she was +aware, snatch a kiss, and be off again on his adventures. Oh, merry +ruffler! He was too direct, thought my lady, too swift, employed no +gentle arts in his wooing. She played with the idea that he was like a +strong wind, vigorous, salt-tanged. He had no repose; he must be here +and there, restless, so charged with vitality that it almost seemed to +brim over. See, too, his challenging eyes, wickedly inviting under the +down-dropped lids! Shame! Shame that one should know an answering leap +of the heart! He would swing past along the deck, a hand on his hip, +careless, heedless; one was bound to watch him, willy-nilly. He might +stop beside his Master a brief while; his quick, gay speech would be +borne back to one in snatches on the wind; one would see him fling out +a pointing hand, give a decisive shake to his neat black head, crack +some jest to set the Master chuckling, and be off down the companion to +mingle amongst his men. + +It seemed they held him in some esteem, no little awe. No good came +of an attempt to trifle with Sir Nicholas Beauvallet. He was a +leader to love, but one to fear withal. Doña Dominica, catching at +new-learned English words, heard stray comments, enough to show her +what Beauvallet's men thought of him. They thought him a rare jest, she +gathered, and pondered over the strange mentality of these English, who +spent their time in laughing. They did not behave thus in Spain. + +And Spain, with its courtly propriety, its etiquette, and its solemn +grandeur, grew nearer and ever nearer. Mad days at sea were nearly done +now, and adventure was coming to an end. Don Manuel, reclining on his +pillows, spoke of duennas; my lady hid a shudder and turned wistful +eyes towards Beauvallet. To one reared in the freedom of the New World +trammels of the Old would not be welcome. Don Manuel said severely that +he had permitted his daughter too great a license. Faith, the girl +thought for herself, was pert, he doubted, and certainly head-strong. +As witness her behaviour on board the _Santa Maria_. A maid surprised +by piratical marauders should have stood passive, a frozen statue of +martyrdom. A daughter of Spain had no business to kick, and bite, and +scratch, or to brandish daggers and spit venom upon her captors. Don +Manuel had been shocked indeed, but knew her well enough to forbear +comment. He trusted that his sister would find a strict duenna to +govern her. He had marriage plans in mind, too, and hinted as much to +her. He would see her safely bestowed, he said, and drew a fine picture +of her future life. Doña Dominica listened in growing horror, and +escaped from her father's cabin to the free air above. + +"Oh!" cried she, "are English ladies so hedged about, and guarded, and +confined, as we poor Spaniards?" + +They were in colder latitudes, and the wind bit shrewdly. Beauvallet +loosened the cloak about his shoulders, and clipped it fast about my +lady, so that it fell all about her. "Nay, I'll not confine you, sweet, +but I shall know how to guard my treasure, don't doubt it." + +She drew the cloak about her, and looked up, wide-eyed. "Do you in +England set vile duennas to watch your wives?" she asked. + +He shook his head. "We trust them, rather!" + +Her dimples quivered. "Oh, almost you persuade me, Sir Nicholas!" She +frowned a warning as his hand flew out towards her. "Fie, before your +men? I said 'almost,' señor. Know that my father plans my marriage." + +"A careful gentleman," said Beauvallet. "So, faith, do I." + +"If you came, indeed, into Spain you might haply find me wed, señor." + +A gleam came into his eyes, like a sword, she thought. "Might I so?" he +said, and the words demanded an answer. + +She looked away, trembled a little, smiled, frowned, and blushed. +"N-no," she said. + +Too soon the day came that saw Spanish shores to the southward. Don +Manuel braved the cold air on deck for a while, and followed the +direction of Beauvallet's pointing finger. "Thereabouts lies Santander, +señor. I shall set you ashore to-night." + +The day wore swiftly to its close. Dusk came, and my lady watched +Maria pack her chests. Maria stowed jewels away in a gold-bound box, +and jealously counted each trinket. She could never be at ease amongst +these English, but must always suspect darkly. + +My lady was seized by an odd fancy, and demanded to stow her jewels +with her own hands. She took the casket to the light, and laid its +contents out on the table, and debated over them with a look half +rueful, half tender. In the end she chose a thumb ring of gold, too +large for her little hand, too heavy for a lady's taste. She hid it in +her handkerchief and quickly locked up the case that Maria might not +discover the loss of one significant piece. + +In the soft darkness of the evening she flitted up on deck, a cloak +wrapped about her, and her oval face pale in the dim lamplight. The +ship made slow way now, the dark water lapping gently at her oaken +sides. There was a little bustle on the deck; she heard the Master's +voice raised: "Steady your helm!" She saw Beauvallet standing under the +light of a swinging lamp, with his boatswain beside him. The boatswain +held a lantern, and was peering into the darkness. Far away to the +south Dominica could see the little glow of lights, and knew that Spain +was reached at last. + +She stole up to Beauvallet unseen and laid a timid hand on his arm. He +looked quickly round, and at once his hand covered hers where it lay on +his latticed sleeve. "Why, child!" + +"I came--I wanted--I came to speak with you a minute," she said +uncertainly. + +He drew her apart, and stood looking down at her quizzically. "Speak, +child, I am listening." + +Her hand came out from the shelter of her cloak; in it she held the +golden ring. "Señor, you gave me a ring of yours to keep. I--I think +you will never see me again, and so--and so I would have you take this +ring of mine in memory of me." + +The ring and the hand that held it were alike caught in a strong hold. +She was swept out of the circle of light cast by the lamp above, and +stood face to face with Beauvallet in the friendly darkness. She felt +his arms go round her, and stood still, with her hands clasped at her +breast. He held her in a tight embrace, laid his cheek against her +curls, and murmured: "Sweetheart! Fondling!" Madness, madness, but it +was sweet to be mad just once in one's life! She lifted her face, put +up a hand to touch his bronzed cheek, and gave him back kisses that +were shy and very fugitive. Her senses swam; she thought she would +never forget how an Englishman's arms felt, iron barriers holding one +hard against a leaping heart. A shiver of ecstasy ran through her; she +whispered: "_Querido!_ Dear one! Do not quite forget!" + +"Forget!" he said. "Oh, little unbeliever! Feel how I hold you: shall I +ever let you go?" + +She came back to earth; she was blushing and shaken. "Oh, loose me!" +she begged, and seemed to flutter in his arms. "How may I believe that +you could do the impossible?" + +"There is naught impossible that I have found," he said. "You shall +leave me for a space, since to that I pledged my word, but not for +long, my little love, not for long! Look for me before the year is out; +I shall surely come." + +A rich voice sounded close at hand. "Where are you, sir? They answer +the signal right enough." + +Beauvallet put the lady quickly behind him; the boatswain came to them, +peering through the darkness. + +What followed passed as a dream for Dominica. There was a furtive light +dipping and shining on the mainland; she escaped below decks, and saw +her baggage borne away, and heard the bustle of a boat being prepared. +Don Manuel sat ready, wrapped about in a fur-lined cloak, but shivering +always. "He hath compassed it," Don Manuel said in quiet satisfaction. +"He is a brave man." + +Master Dangerfield came to fetch them in a little while; he gave an arm +to Don Manuel, spoke words of cheer, but cast a regretful eye towards +my lady. They came up on deck and found Beauvallet by a rope-ladder. +Below, bobbing on the ink-black water, a boat waited, manned by the +boatswain and some of his men, and with the baggage stowed safely in it. + +Sir Nicholas came forward. "Don Manuel, have you strength to descend +yon ladder?" + +"I can essay, señor," Don Manuel said. "Bartolomeo, go before me." He +faced Beauvallet in the shaded lamplight. "Señor, this is farewell. You +will let me say----" + +"No need, señor. Let it be said anon. I shall see you safely ashore." + +"Yourself, señor? Nay, that is too much to ask of you." + +"Be at ease, ye did not ask it. It is my pleasure," Beauvallet said, +and put out a strong hand to help him down the ladder. + +Don Manuel went painfully down the side with Bartolomeo watchful +below him. Beauvallet turned to Dominica, and opened his arms. "Trust +yourself to me yet again, sweetheart," he said. + +Without a word she went to him and let him swing her up to his +shoulder. He went lightly down the side with her, let her slip to her +feet in the boat below, and held her still with one supporting hand. +She found a seat beside Maria, crouched in the stern, and nestled +beside her. Beauvallet left the ladder and gained the boat, stepped +past the two women to the tiller behind them, and called a low order +to his men. There was a casting off, long oars dipped into the heaving +water; silently the boat cleaved forward towards the land. + +A crescent moon gleamed suddenly through a rift in the clouds above; +Dominica looked round and saw Beauvallet behind her, holding the +tiller. He was looking frowningly ahead, but as she turned he glanced +down at her and smiled. She said suddenly on a sharp note of fear: "Ah, +if there should be soldiers! A trap!" + +His white teeth shone between the black of beard and mustachio. "Never +fear." + +"Foolhardy!" she whispered. "I would you had not come." + +"What, and send my men into a danger I dare not face?" he rallied her. + +She looked at him, so straight and handsome in the pale moonlight. "No, +that is not your way," she said. "I cry pardon." + +The clouds covered the moon's face again; Beauvallet was a dark shadow +against the night. "I have a sword, child. Fear not." + +"Rather, Reck Not," she said in a low voice. + +She heard the ripple of his gay laugh. + +Soon, too soon, the boat's keel grated on the beach. There were men +running down to meet them now, men who caught at the boat, and held +her, and questioned eagerly, in low, rough Spanish. Sir Nicholas picked +his way across the baggage, and between the rowers to the nose of the +boat, and sprang ashore, closely followed by his boatswain. There was +the quick give and take of question and answer, a sharp exclamation, a +subdued babel of voices in a long parley. Then Beauvallet came back to +the boat, with the sea washing about his ankles, and gave his hand to +Don Manuel. "All is well, señor; these worthy fellows will give you a +lodging for the night, and your man may ride into Santander to-morrow +to find a coach to bear you hence." + +A burly sailor lifted Don Manuel on to dry land; his daughter lay in +tenderer arms. She was carried up the beach, held closer still for a +moment. Beauvallet bent his head and kissed her. "Till I come again!" +he said, and set her on her feet. "Trust me!" + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + +The _Venture_ was left in Plymouth Sound, under charge of Master +Culpepper, and her treasure safely stored. She was docked, and would +be clean careened before she could put to sea again. Beauvallet stayed +some three nights in Plymouth, where he found a sea-faring crony or +two, heard what news was abroad, and saw to the bestowal of his ship. +He took horse then, with Joshua Dimmock in attendance, and a hired man +following hard upon them with led sumpters, and made for Alreston, in +Hampshire, where he might reasonably expect to find his brother. + +My Lord Beauvallet had other dwellings beside this, but of all +this manor of Alreston saw him the most. There was a grim hold in +Cambridgeshire, built nearly two hundred years ago by the founder +of the house, Simon, First Baron Beauvallet. A left-handed scion of +the old house of Malvallet, Simon cleaved for himself a new name +and a new title. Under King Henry V he saw much fighting in France, +and when those wars were done, came riding back into Cambridgeshire +with a French bride, a countess in her own right, holding lands and +a stronghold in Normandy. You might read of this first Beauvallet's +mighty deeds in the dreamy chronicles of his close friend, Alan, Earl +of Montlice, who occupied the latter years of his life with the writing +of his reminiscences. It is a diffuse work, something poetical in tone, +but contains much of interest. + +Since the days of the Iron Baron the family fortunes had fluctuated. +The French County was lost to the English branch very early, for +Simon, finding himself continually at loggerheads with his first-born, +bestowed it upon his second son, Henry, who was thus the founder of the +present French house. + +Geoffrey, the second baron, survived the Wars of the Roses, but left +the barony considerably impoverished by his vacillations. His heir, +Henry, took to wife Margaret, heiress of Malvallet, by which wise +alliance the two families were made one. His successors all laid +schemes for the family's advancement, but the times were troublous, and +it was not always possible to steer a safe course through the varying +politics of the day. Thus in this year, 1586, although the house of +Beauvallet had by dint of careful marriages planted its roots in many +great houses, and become one of the wealthiest in the land, the present +holder of the title was still only a baron, as his ancestor had been +before him. + +This Seventh Baron, Gerard, a solid man, had built the new house +at Alreston, a noble mansion of red brick, with oak timberings. My +lady, a frail dame, complained of the cruel temper of the climate in +Cambridgeshire, and was urgent in her gentle way, to be gone from an +ancient castle full of draughts and damp and gloomy corners. My lord, +inheriting much of his great ancestor's rugged nature, had a fondness +for this mediæval hold, and saw in the use of oak for house-building +a sign of the decadence of the age. He was, so they said, a hard man, +with a will of iron, but there was a joint in his armour. My lady had +her way, and there arose in milder Hampshire, on lands that had come as +part of the dowry of Gerard's grandmother, a stately Tudor mansion, set +in fair gardens, surrounded by its stables, its farmsteads, and its +rolling acres of pasturage. It was seen that my lord for all his hardy +notions had pride in the magnificence of the building. He might speak +slightingly of an age of luxury, but he adorned his house with every +trapping of wealth, used the despised oak for his panelling, and had +all carved and painted to the admiration of his neighbours. + +Thither rode Nicholas, on a bright spring day, and came in sight of +the square gatehouse, after an absence of over a year. The gates stood +wide, and showed a broad avenue stretching ahead, with rolling lawns to +flank it, and the high gables of the manor beyond. Sir Nicholas reined +in, and sent a shout echoing through the archway. The gate-keeper +came out, no sooner saw who called than he hurried forward, beaming a +welcome. "Eh, but it could be none other! Master Nick!" + +Beauvallet stretched down a hand in careless good nature. "Well, old +Samson? How does my brother?" + +"Well, master, well, and my lady too," Samson told him, and bent the +knee to kiss his hand. "Are you come home for aye at last, sir? The +place misses you!" + +There was a shrug of the shoulder and a shake of the head. "Nay, nay, +the place needs but my brother." + +"A just lord," Samson agreed. "But there is never a man on Beauvallet +land would not be glad to welcome Sir Nicholas home." + +"Oh, flatterer!" Beauvallet mocked. "What have I ever done for the +land?" + +"It is not that, master." Samson shook his head, and would have said +more. + +But Sir Nicholas laughed it aside, waved his hand, and rode on under +the arch. + +A flight of broad stone steps led up from the neat drive to the terrace +and the great doorway. There were clipped yews in tubs, and in the +stonework above the door the Beauvallet arms were set in a stone +shield. Leaded windows reared up slim and stately to either side, built +out in rounded bays, with scrolls beneath them of stonework set against +the warmer brick. The roof was tiled red, with tall chimney-stacks to +either end, and round attic windows set between the many gables. The +door stood open to let in the spring sunshine. + +Sir Nicholas swung himself lightly down from the saddle, tossed the +bridle to Joshua, and went bounding up the steps. Like a boy he set +his hollowed hands to form a trumpet for his mouth, and called: "Holà, +there! What, none to cry Nick welcome?" + +In a moment heads peeped from upper windows. There was a stir amongst +the serving maids, a whisper of: "Sir Nicholas is home!" and much +preening of stuff gowns and patting of prim coifs. Sir Nicholas might +be counted on to give a hearty buss to the prettiest, ignoring my +lady's murmured protests. + +Portly Master Dawson, steward for many years, heard the shout in his +buttery, and made haste to come out into the sunlight. A couple of +lackeys hurried at his heels, and Dame Margery, urgent to be the first +to greet her nursling. She pushed past Master Dawson as he reached the +door, dived under his arm without ceremony, a little wrinkled woman in +a close white cap. "My cosset!" cried Dame Margery. "My lamb! Is it my +babe indeed?" + +"Indeed and indeed!" Sir Nicholas said, laughing, and opened his arms +to her. He caught her up in a great hug while she fondled and scolded +all in one breath. He was a good-for-naught, a rough, sudden fellow +to snatch up an old woman thus! Eh, but he was brown! She dared swear +he was grown; but his cheek was thin: she misgave her he was in poor +health. Ah, he was a sad wastrel to be so long gone, and to come home +but to laugh at his poor nurse! She must pat him, stroke his hands, +feel the thickness of his short cloak. A fine cloth, by her faith! all +tricked out with points and tassels of gold! Oh, spendthrift! Take +heed, take heed! Could he not see my lord coming to greet him? + +My lord came sedately out from the house in a gown of camlet trimmed +with vair, with a close cap set upon his head, and a gold chain about +his neck. My lord wore a cathedral beard like a churchman. He was fair +where Nicholas was dark; his eyes were blue, but lacked the sparkle +that was in his brother's eyes. He was a tall man of imposing mien, had +a grave countenance and a stately gait. "Well, Nick!" he said, with +the glimmer of a smile. "My lady heard a shouting and commotion, and +straightway saith Nick must be home. How is it with you, lad?" + +The brothers embraced. "As you see me, Gerard. And you?" + +"Well, enough. A tertian fever troubled me in February, but it is +happily passed." + +"He must needs go into Cambridgeshire to that damp, unhealthy castle," +sighed a mournful voice. "I knew what would come of it. I foretold an +ague from the start. Dear Nicholas, give you good den." + +Nicholas turned to greet my Lady Beauvallet, kissed her hand right +dutifully, and so came to her lips. "Do I see you well, sister?" + +"Nick!" She blushed faintly and shook her finger at him. "Ever the +same swift way! Nay, the hard winter--harder than any I remember, +was it not, my lord?--tried me sorely. At the New Year I had the +sweating-sickness. Then, at Candlemas, an ague seized me, and was like +to have carried me off, methought." + +"But the spring comes, and you grow strong with it," suggested Nicholas. + +She looked doubtful. "Indeed, Nicholas, I trust it may be found so, but +I have the frailest health, as you know." + +Gerard broke in upon this lamentation. "I see you bring home that +ruffler," he said, and nodded to where Joshua stood in parley with the +lackeys. "Have ye schooled him yet?" + +"Devil a bit, brother. Joshua! Here, rogue, come pay your duty to my +lord!" He put an arm round my lady's waist and swept her into the +house. "Have in with you, Kate. The snip of the wind is like to lay you +low of a second ague." + +My lady went with him protesting. "Nick, Nick, so hardy still? Not a +second ague, I assure you, but more like the seventh, for, indeed, no +sooner am I raised from one than another comes to strike me down. Come +into the hall, brother. There should be a fire there, and they will +bring wine for you. Or there is some March beer of two years tunning. +Dawson! Dawson, bring--oh, he is gone! Well, come in, Nicholas; you +will be chilled from your ride." + +They went through the screens to the Great Hall. This was a noble +apartment with the roof high over their heads crossed and re-crossed +with oaken timbers. Tall windows were set all round the walls at a +height above a man's head. Between them the walls were covered with +panels of linen-fold. A dais was set at one end, in the bay of the +front windows, with a long table upon it and benches around. A great +fireplace stood in one wall, with logs burning in it. Above the lofty +mantelpiece, supported by pilasters, my lord's quarterings hung. +Rushes, with rosemary strewed amongst them, covered the floor; there +was a settle on either side of the fireplace, and some carved and +panel-backed chairs ranged neatly along the wall. + +My lady sat down on one side of the fire, and since her monstrous +farthingale seemed to occupy most of the settle, Sir Nicholas went to +the other. "Yes, sit down, dear Nicholas," she said. "Dawson will be +here anon, and my lord too, I dare swear." + +Sir Nicholas loosed the cloak from about his shoulders and tossed it +aside. It fell over one of the chairs against the wall, and Margery, +peeping round a corner of the screens, frowned to see the fine thing +so rudely used. My lady caught sight of that puckered face and smiled +kindly. "Come you in, Margery. You will say it is a good day that sees +Sir Nicholas come riding home." + +"Good indeed, my lady." Margery dropped a curtsey. "But a feckless, +heedless boy! Ah, is there never one to school him?" She picked up the +cloak and folded it carefully. "Tut, the brave hat upon the floor! +Two feathers in it, i'faith!" She looked a fond reproof at such +extravagance. "Heed old Margery, my cosset, and get ye a wife!" + +"What need?" Sir Nicholas asked, and disposed his graceful limbs at +ease along the settle. "What need while I still have Margery to scold, +and a fair sister to shake her head at me?" + +"Oh, Nicholas, for shame!" my lady said. "I shake my head? Though, +indeed, ye often deserve that I should. Ah, my lord, in good time! Here +is your brother says we scold, poor Margery and I." + +My lord came to sit beside Nicholas on the settle. "Dawson is gone to +fetch the March beer for you, Nick. He is sure it is what you need." He +smiled. "It is a rare thing, faith, to see the house turned upside down +for a graceless rogue that heeds naught that concerns it." + +Sir Nicholas threw back his head, and laughed. "The old tale! I irk you +sorely, Gerard, alack!" + +"Nay, nay." My lord looked on him with some kindness. "So ye be come +home now to stay...." + +"Patience, Gerard, patience!" Nicholas said mischievously. + +Dawson came in preceding a lackey, bearing the famous beer upon a +salver. "Sir, at your pleasure!" + +"In good sooth!" Sir Nicholas stretched out a hand for the tankard. +"Give you my word I have yearned often for this. My lady, I drink to +your better health." + +"Ah!" sighed my lady, and shook her head. + +My lord took the second tankard. "You will wish to hear news of my Lady +Stanbury," he said. "I had a letter from her lord last Friday se'n +night, telling me she had been brought to bed of a fair son." + +"What, a son at last?" quoth Sir Nicholas, tossing off the rest of +his beer. "Marry, I lost count of poor Adela's daughters long since! +Dawson, another tankard, man, to drink my nephew's health!" He looked +at Gerard. "How doth my sister? Who stands sponsor?" + +"Well, very well. I am asked to stand, with my lady, and another. Ye +should journey into Worcester to visit them; Adela would be glad of it. +You will not have heard that our cousin Arnold is wedded to Groshawk's +second daughter? A fair match, no more than fair. The elder girl +favoured her mother too much for Arnold, so I heard." + +Talk ran awhile on family matters; my lady went away presently to see +to the preparation of the heir's chamber, and Nicholas must needs be +off to the stables to greet old servants, and inspect new horses. My +lord went with him, willingly enough. + +"There's a Barbary horse might suit you," said he. "Ye shall try his +paces. I bought him last Michaelmas, but he is scarce up to my weight, +I believe. He should please you: a fiery, impatient brute." He linked +arms with Nicholas, and made his brother curb his hasty steps to match +his own. "Gently, lad! What's your hurry?" + +"None. What hawks do you keep now? What sport?" + +"Fair, fair. I was out with my neighbour Selby last Thursday. I let +fly my tassel-gentle at a pheasant, discovered in a brake. A rare bird +that! I had her from Stanbury when he was here over Twelfth Night; ye +shall see her anon. Selby found a mallard, whistled off his falcon. +Down she came, twice missed, but recovered it at a long flight...." + +They talked of hawking, and of venery, and of the management of the +estate. When they came slowly back to the house the sun was sinking +behind it in a red glow. Master Dawson met them with a warning of +supper. Sir Nicholas' baggage had arrived, and was safely bestowed in +his chamber. Sir Nicholas went up the wide stairs two at a time, and +found Joshua laying out a doublet and hose of slashed mochado, with +netherstocks of carnation silk, and a clean stiff ruff. + +A great bed with a canopy of carved wood supported at all four corners +by pillars in the form of caryatides, stood out into the room. It had +hangings of worked damask, and a Venice-valance. A bow-fronted chest +of walnut inlaid with cherrywood stood at the foot of it; there was an +armoire in one corner, a second chest bearing upon it a basin and ewer +of pewter ware, painted cloths upon the walls, and a thrown-chair by +the window. Sir Nicholas flung himself down in this, and stretched his +legs out before him. "Off with my boots, Joshua. Where's the casket I +bade ye cherish?" + +"Safe, master; I will bring it on the instant." Joshua knelt, and +tugged at the muddied boots. "All goeth merrily at home, sir, as we +see. 'What now,' quoth Master Dawson--he grows somewhat fat on good +living, mark you--'What now, do ye stay in England, Master Dimmock?' +This is to pry into our affairs, master. I made him a short answer, +never fear me. 'It's not for me,' quoth I, 'to divulge what plans Sir +Nicholas hath in mind.' He stood abashed." + +"I warrant me!" Sir Nicholas said mockingly. "A rare, politic answer, +my Joshua. Pray, what are my plans?" + +Joshua arose with the second boot in his hand. "Nay, sir, ye have +not favoured me with them yet," he said with unabated cheerfulness. +"But it was not fit that I should say as much to that fat steward. A +swag-bellied, pompous ass, I make bold to say. Yet, master, and I do +not speak without reflection, it might suit us well to remain snug at +home now." + +Sir Nicholas stood up, his fingers busy with the untying of his points. +"Further, rogue, it might suit us better to be gone again just so soon +as the _Venture_ is ready to put to sea." + +Joshua's face fell. "Is it so indeed, master?" + +The glancing blue eyes looked down at him a moment. "Rest you snug at +home. Do I constrain you? I am off on a wild adventure this time." + +"The more reason to take me along," said Joshua severely. "If you are +to be off again I shall certainly accompany you." He picked up the +doublet from the bed, and frowned a stern reproof. "This is to jest, +sir. I shall be at hand to keep a watch over our interests. I do not +say that I had not as lief be at home, but I shall without doubt go +where you go, for that is clearly my fate." + +"Like Ruth," said Sir Nicholas flippantly. + +In a little while he was descending the stairs again, very brave in +his doublet of the French cut, with the high wings to the shoulders, +and the embroidered sleeves. He had a fine leg, set off to advantage +in stockings of carnation silk, with rosettes to the garters below his +knees. The little neat ruff made no more than a stiff cup for his face; +my Lord Beauvallet, favouring a wider fashion, called it Italianate, +and looked severely. + +My lord and his lady were found in the winter-parlour, where supper +was spread upon a draw-table. Sir Nicholas came in upon them, splendid +in his rich trappings, and set a small casket before my lady. "Spain +pays toll to beauty, Kate," he said, and looked wickedly under his +lashes at Gerard's disapproving countenance. + +My lady knew very well what she might expect to find in the casket, +but chose to dissemble. "Why, Nicholas, what do you bring me?" she +wondered, raising her watchett-blue eyes to his face. + +"A poor gewgaw, no more. There is a length of China silk in my baggage +you might make into a gown, or some such thing." + +My lady had opened the casket, and clasped her hands in breathless +ecstasy. "Oh, Nick! Rubies!" she gasped, and almost reverently drew +forth a long chain set with the precious stones. She held it in her +hands, and looked doubtfully at Gerard. "See, my lord! Nicholas makes +me a noble present." + +"Ay," said my lord glumly. "Jewels filched from some Spanish hold." + +My lady sighed, and put the chain down. "Should I not wear it, dear +sir?" + +"Tush!" Nicholas said bracingly, and caught up the chain from the +table, and cast it about my lady's thin neck. "I've other such toys for +the Queen. I warrant you she will wear them. Heed him not." + +"I am sure," said my lady, plucking up courage, "that what the Queen's +Grace does not disdain to wear I need not." + +Gerard sat down in the high-backed chair at the head of the table. "You +will do as you please, madam," he said deeply. + +Supper was eaten in silence, as was customary, but when the green goose +had been taken away, and sweetmeats were on the table, and Hippocras +set before my lord, conversation began again. My lord dipped his +fingers in a gilt basin handed to him by a lackey liveried in blue, and +spoke more genially. "Well, Nick, ye say naught of your designs. Have +you come home to stay?" + +"Confess, brother, you are more at ease when I am abroad!" Nicholas +rallied him, and poured Hippocras into the delicate glass of Venetian +ware before him. + +Gerard permitted a smile to break his gravity. "Nay, acquit me, I do +not gainsay, though, ye are a mad, roystering lad." + +"Swashbuckler, ye were wont to call me." + +"Well." My lord smiled more broadly. + +"Oh no, I am sure he is sober enough now!" my lady said in a flutter. +"No hard words, I beg! Why he numbers some thirty-four--thirty-five +summers, surely?" + +"God 'a mercy, do I so?" Sir Nicholas said, startled. He lifted his +glass, and held it up to see the light through the wine in it. He +seemed to be pondering some quaint thought; my lord saw the corners of +his mouth lift a little. + +"Time to be done with all this ruffling on the high seas," my lord said. + +Beauvallet shot him a quick look; there was a hidden jest in his eyes. +He returned to the contemplation of his wine. + +My lady rose. "You will have much to say to one another," she said. "Ye +will find me in the gallery anon." + +Beauvallet went to hold the door for her. As she passed him she put out +a hand, and smiled vaguely. "Indeed, I hope you will listen to my lord, +Nick. We should be glad to have you at home." + +He carried her fingers to his lips, but would give her neither yea nor +nay. She went out, and he closed the door behind her. + +My lord pushed back his chair a little way from the table, sat more at +his ease, and poured another glass of wine. "Sit ye down, Nick, sit ye +down! Let me know your mind." He observed the secret jest still in his +brother's face, and knew a feeling of some slight alarm. There was no +knowing what folly Nick might be planning. + +Sir Nicholas pulled his chair round a little, sank into it, with one +leg thrown over the arm. His fingers closed round the stem of his +glass, twisting it this way and that. His other hand played gently with +his pomander. + +My lord nodded and smiled. "I see you still have that trick of swinging +your pomander. As I remember it never boded good. My memory serves, +eh?" He drank his wine, and set down the glass. "Thirty-five summers! +Ay, my lady is in the right of it. Thirty-five summers and still +roaming the world. Now to what purpose, Nick?" + +Beauvallet shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, to bring rubies home for Kate," +he parried. + +"It's what I don't like. I'll not conceal it from you. It's very well +for such men as Hawkins or Drake, but I would remind you, Nick, that +you stand next to me in the succession. To make the Grand Tour is well +enough--though what good ye came by from it, God knoweth!" + +"Nay, brother," Sir Nicholas protested. "I learned to foin with the +point from the great Carranza himself in Toledo! Grant me that." + +My lord was roused to an expression of strenuous disapproval. "A pretty +ambition, God wot! All this pricking and poking with a barbarous rapier +is an invention of the devil himself. An honest sword-and-buckler was +good enough for our fathers." + +"But not good enough for us," said Beauvallet. "Yet I will engage +to worst you in an encounter with your sword-and-buckler, Gerard. I +believe I have not altogether lost the trick of it. But for delicacy, +for finesse, let me have the rapier!" He made an imaginary pass in the +air. "What, you say I learned no good upon my travels? Did I not sit at +the feet of Carranza, and after find out Marozzo himself in Venice? Ay, +he was old, I grant you, but he had some tricks still to show. Alack, +ye have no Italian! Ye should else read his _Opera Nova_, in the which +book he carefully explains the uses of the _falso_ and the _dritto +filo_. No good, ye say? Produce me the man who can worst me with the +rapier and the dagger!" + +My lord maintained an unyielding front. "Do you count such foreign +tricks a gain? What else have you to show for these years of junketting +abroad?" + +"A rare Toledo blade, brother," returned Nicholas, unabashed. "A blade +tempered in the waters of the Tagus, and inscribed with the name of +Andrea Ferrara between eight crowns. Yet another such blade, from the +hand of Sahagom. What, more? Why, then, a suit of Jacobi armour you +yourself did not despise; an acquaintance with our cousins in France; +an intimate knowledge of the French, the Spanish, and the Italian +tongues--which I think ye lack----" + +"The English of my forefathers sufficeth me," said my lord grimly. + +"You've no ambition, Gerard," mourned Beauvallet. + +"I've no vagrant spirit," said my lord tartly. "Will you never be +still? I pass over the Grand Tour; I may pass over even that mad +emprise ye set forth on with Drake----" + +"A thousand thanks!" Beauvallet's eyes were alight. + +"I grant you it was worth the doing," said my lord grudgingly. "Ay, a +rare feat, and all honour to you for compassing it." + +"Give honour to Drake, where it is due," said Beauvallet, and lifted +his glass. "We drink his health! To Drake, the master-mariner!" + +My lord drank the toast, but without enthusiasm. "It's very well, but +why ye must needs cleave so fast to this same Sir Francis passeth my +comprehension." + +"Does it so?" Beauvallet said. "But then, brother, you have not sailed +the world round in his company, nor learned seacraft of him, nor faced +sack, battle and wreck at his side." + +"Ye have imbibed unfit notions from him. A voyage round the world! Very +well, very well, a feat indeed, and duly we honoured it. Ye brought +home a store of riches, moreover, enough for any man. Then was the time +to call an end to this wandering fever. But did ye? Nay, ye built your +fine ship, and must needs be off again. A madness! A most damnable +folly, Nick, give me leave to say!" + +Sir Nicholas bowed his raven head in mock contrition. "I cry your +pardon, good my lord!" + +"Ay, and sit there as graceless as the day ye were first breeched," +said my lord, a hint of humour in his deep voice. "Nay, Nick, I speak +advisedly. Ye have laid up a goodly treasure, as I know who husband it +for you. Treasure come by in a way I like not, but let it go. There is +the manor of Basing waiting for you any time you choose to go to it. My +lady brings me no heirs, nor is not like to. I look to you. What comes +to our house if you be slain or drowned? Get a wife, and be done with +this roystering!" + +Sir Nicholas lifted his pomander to his nose. "Give me joy, brother, I +am about to get me a wife." + +My lord was momentarily surprised, but he hid it quickly. "In good +time. My lady hath her eye upon a likely maid for you. We had thought +on the Lady Alison, daughter of Lord Gervais of Alfreston, but there +are others beside. Ye might go into Worcestershire for a bride. My +sister writes sundry names might please you." + +Beauvallet held up his hand. His eyes were fairly brimful now with that +secret jest. "Hold, hold, Gerard! I am going to look in Spain for my +bride." + +My lord set down his glass with a snap that came near to breaking it. +He stared under his projecting brows. "What's this? What new folly?" + +"None, I swear. My choice is made. Give me joy, brother! I shall bring +home a bride before a year is out." + +My lord sat back in his chair. "Expound me this riddle," he said +quietly. "Ye jest, I think." + +"Never less. I give you a new toast." He came to his feet and lifted +his glass on high. "Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva!" + +My lord did not drink it. "A Spanish Papist?" he asked. "Do you ask me +to believe that?" + +"No Papist, but a dear heretic." Sir Nicholas leaned on the +goffered-leather back of his chair. With a sinking heart my lord noted +the scarce curbed energy of him, the exultant look in his face. He +feared the worst. The worst came. "I took her and her father aboard the +_Venture_ after the sack of the _Santa Maria_. More of that anon. Since +she would have it so, and since to that I pledged my word, I set them +ashore on the northern coast of Spain. But I swore I would ride into +Spain to seek her, and so I shall do, brother, never doubt me." + +My lord sat still in his chair, looking up at Nicholas. His face was +set. "Nick, if this be indeed no jest----" + +"God's my pity, wherefor should I jest?" Beauvallet cried impatiently. +"I am in earnest, in deadly earnest!" + +"Then ye are mad indeed!" my lord said, and struck the table with his +open palm. "Mad, and should be clapped up! Fool, do ye think to ride +scatheless into Spain in these days?" + +The smile flashed out; Sir Nicholas nodded. "Ay, I think to come out of +Spain with a whole skin." + +My lord got up out of his chair. "Nick, Nick, what devil rides you? We +have no ambassador in Spain to-day. How should you fare?" + +"Alone. The stars always fight for me, Gerard. Will you take a wager +that I do not come home with a bride on my arm?" + +"Nay, have done with laughing! To what a pass has this senseless love +of danger led you? Lad, heed what I say! If ye go into Spain ye will +never come out again. The Inquisition will have you in its damnable +toils, and there is no power under the sun can save you then!" + +Sir Nicholas snapped finger and thumb in the air. "A fig for the +Inquisition! Gerard, my careful Gerard, I give you _Reck Not_!" + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + +To my Lady Beauvallet, discovered in the Long Gallery, Gerard exposed +the folly of his brother. He sat him down heavily in a chair covered +with gilded leather, and spoke bitterly and long. My lady listened +in amazement and distress, but Nicholas wandered down the gallery +inspecting such new pieces as my lord had lately acquired, and gave no +ear to the discourse. + +"If you have more influence than I have, Kate, I pray you use it now," +Gerard said. "I grant you he lives but to plague me, but I should +desire him to continue to live." + +Nicholas raised his head from a close scrutiny of a piece from one of +the cabinets. "Whence had you this Majolica ware, Gerard?" he inquired. + +"But Nicholas cannot mean it!" my lady said hopefully. + +"Prevail upon him to admit as much, madam, and call me your debtor. +Prevail on him only to pay heed to sager counsel!" + +She turned her head, and saw Nicholas at the other end of the gallery, +intent upon Majolica ware. "Good my brother! Nicholas! Will you not +tell me what you have in mind?" + +Nicholas put back the piece, and came sauntering towards her. "Pottery, +Kate, but Gerard denies me an answer. What's your will?" + +"God sain you, Nick, can you not be serious even now?" my lord said +sharply. + +Nicholas stood before them, swinging gently on his toes, with his hands +tucked into his belt. A smile lilted at the corners of his mouth. +"Here's heat! I've said my say, Gerard, and mighty ill you liked it. +What would you have now?" + +"Nick, put by this mad humour, and give me a sober answer! Tell me ye +did but jest." + +"Soberly I tell you, brother, I did not jest." + +My lord's hand clenched on the arm of his chair, and he spoke with some +force. "It's to throw away your life for a whim. Are you tired of it? +Does the thought of death please you so well? Or are ye besotted with +success and now think even to succeed in this?" + +Nicholas nodded. + +"Oh, but Nicholas, this is not like you!" fluttered my lady. + +"It's very like him, madam!" Gerard retorted. "Any wild scheme is meat +for Nick! I might have known what would come of it! But to think to +snatch a wench out of Spain, to bring her home, a foreigner and an +enemy, to be my lady one day passes all bounds!" + +"Does it so indeed?" Nicholas interposed swiftly. "You're at fault, +Gerard. I do but follow the example of the first baron, who also +brought home a foreigner and an enemy to be his bride." + +My lord glared; my lady stirred restlessly, and hurried into speech. +"Of what like is she, Nicholas?" + +"Tush!" said my lord awfully. + +Nicholas looked down at my lady; a gentler light was in his eyes. +"Kate, she is a little lady all fire and spirit, with great brown eyes, +and two dimples set on either side the sweetest mouth in Christendom." + +"But a Spaniard!" my lady protested. + +"Trust me to amend that," he said lightly. + +She liked the savour of romance, smiled, and sighed. My lord brought +her down to earth again very speedily. "What boots it to ask of what +like she may be? Ye will never see her. Nor will ye see Nick again if +he goes on this mad quest. That is certain." + +Nicholas laughed out. "Marry, only one thing is certain, Gerard, and +that is that ye will never be rid of me. I always come back to be your +bane." + +"Lad, you know well I've no wish to be rid of you. Can I not prevail +with you? For the sake of the house?" + +Nicholas held up his hand, and showed the lady's thumb-ring upon his +little finger. "See my lady's token. I swore on it to reach to her. Are +you answered?" + +My lord made a gesture of despair. "I see there is once more to be no +ho with you. When do you look to go?" + +"Some three months hence," Nicholas answered. "The _Venture_ lies in +dock, and will take some time refitting. I must to London within the +week to pay my duty to the Queen. I have appointed young Dangerfield to +meet me there. I might go thence into Worcestershire to see how Adela +does. You will see me home again in a month, never doubt it." + +He left Alreston two days later upon the Barbary horse from my lord's +stables, with Joshua Dimmock riding sedately behind him, and travelled +'cross country at his leisure until the post road was reached. + +"Never at quiet!" Joshua remarked to the heavens. "Court drowning at +sea, court foundering in mire upon land: it's all one." + +"Peace, froth!" Beauvallet said, and made his horse curvet on the green. + +They came within sight of the city late one evening as the gates were +closing. "What, the good-year!" Joshua cried, roused to wrath. "Shut +Beauvallet out, is it? Now see how I will use these churlish Londoners!" + +"No swashbuckling here, crack-hemp; we rest at the Tabard." + +The great inn showed welcoming lights, and placed her best at +Beauvallet's disposal. He stayed only one night, and was gone in the +morning over London Bridge to the Devil Tavern in East Chepe, where he +had reason to think he might find Sir Francis Drake. + +The host, who knew him well, accorded him a deferential welcome, and +bustled about to prepare a chamber for his honour. Sir Francis lay at +the inn indeed, but was gone forth that morning, mine host knew not +where. But there was a dinner bespoke for eleven o'clock, and Master +Hawkins would be there--nay, not Master John, but his brother--and Sir +William Cavendish, so mine host believed, with some others. + +"Lay a place for me, Wadloe," Sir Nicholas said, and went out in search +of Sir Francis, or any other friend who might chance to be abroad. + +Paul's Walk was the likeliest place to find Sir Francis; he would be +sure to go there to learn what news might be current. Sir Nicholas +strode off westwards through the crowded streets, came in good time to +the great cathedral, and ran with the clank of spurred heels up the +steps. + +Merchants and moneychangers no longer congregated in the church, as +they had done only twenty years ago, but Paul's Walk was still the +meeting ground for every court gallant who wished to show himself +abroad. If a man desired to see a friend, or hear the latest news, to +Paul's Walk he must go, where he would be bound to meet, sooner or +later, most of the notables of town. + +Beauvallet came up with a score of young gallants, exchanging Court +gossip. His glance swept over these; he clove a way through them, and +looked keenly round. Over the heads of two foppish gentlemen who eyed +him with disfavour, he saw a bluff, square-set man, with a fierce +golden beard, and long grey eyes set slightly slanting in a broad face. +This man stood with feet planted wide, and arms akimbo, talking to an +elderly gentleman in a long cloak. He wore a peascod doublet, hugely +bombasted, and a jewel in one ear. + +Sir Nicholas pushed through the crowd, and raised his hand in greeting. +The square man saw; his narrow eyes opened wider; he waved, and came +to meet Beauvallet through the press. "What, my Nick!" he rumbled. His +voice had some strength, as if he were accustomed to make himself heard +above wind and cannon-shot. "Why, my bully!" He grasped Beauvallet's +hand, and clapped him on the shoulder. "Whence do ye spring? God's +light, I am glad to see you, lad!" + +Some heads were turned. A gentleman pushed forward, +saying:--"Beauvallet, as I live! Save you, Nicholas!" + +Beauvallet greeted this friend, and others who drew near. With Drake's +hand on his shoulder he stood bandying idle talk some little while, +answering eager questions. But soon Drake bore him off, and they walked +back together towards the Devil Tavern. + +"What news?" Drake said. "I had word of you in the Main, ruffling +still. What chance?" + +"Good," Sir Nicholas answered, and recounted briefly some of his +adventures. + +Drake nodded. "No mishaps?" + +"Some few deaths, no more. Perinat came out from Santiago to teach me a +lesson." He chuckled, and flung out a hand on which a single ruby ring +glowed. "Oho! I took that from Perinat for dear remembrance's sake." + +Drake laughed, and pressed his arm. "Proud bantam! What else?" + +"A galleon bound for Vigo laden with silks and spices, and some gold. +More of that anon. Tell your tale." + +Drake had Virginian news, being but just returned from the little +colony. He had brought back the colonists, and had much to tell. Talk +ran freely, and footsteps lagged. It was after eleven when they reached +the Devil, and in an upper room were gathered some half a dozen guests +awaiting their host. + +Drake rolled in with an arm flung across Beauvallet's shoulders. "Cry +you pardon!" he said. "Look what I bring!" + +There was some little stir, a cry of "Mad Nicholas, by God!" and a +babel of welcome. + +There was Frobisher, ready with a quiet greeting; Master William +Hawkins, solid, frieze-clad man; young Richard, his nephew, standing +beside Cavendish, a courtier among the sea-dogs; Master John Davys, +rugged man, and a scattering of others, most of them known to Sir +Nicholas. The rafters rang soon with wild tales tossed to and fro, +laughter, and the clink of tankards. Drake sat fatherly at the head +of his table and had Sir Nicholas upon his right hand, Frobisher on +his left. Frobisher bent his brows at Beauvallet, and said: "I heard +of your coming; there were some men of yours met some of mine at the +Gallant Howard. Fine doings! I am avised you sail with women aboard. +How now, Beauvallet?" + +Drake cocked a wise eyebrow in Beauvallet's direction; young Cavendish +looked as though he would like to hear more, yet hardly liked to raise +his voice in this august gathering. + +"True enough," Sir Nicholas said lightly. + +"Rare work for a sailor," Frobisher said ironically. "A new cantrip, I +doubt?" + +"You're jealous, Martin," Drake cut in with a deep laugh. "What's the +reason, Nick?" + +"Simple enough," Beauvallet said, and told it, very briefly. + +Drake dipped a sop in his wine, and looked sideways a moment. Frobisher +said grimly:--"Beauvallet looks for romance upon the high seas, and +makes his fine gesture. I would not sail with you, Beauvallet, for a +thousand pound." + +"No stomach for it, Frobisher?" Sir Nicholas said sweetly. + +"None, beshrew me. What fresh devilment this voyage?" + +"Some fine prizes," Drake said. "And a ring from Perinat--for +remembrance's sake, Nick, eh?" + +"I am a plain man," Frobisher remarked. "Too plain for such doings. +Drake and you, Drake and you!" He shook his head over them. + +Master Davys let a sudden laugh at this, and began at once to speak of +a mooted expedition in search of the North-West passage he so fervently +believed in. "Ay, you're a mad runagate, Nick, but there's a place for +you with me if you care to venture forth." + +At that there broke out a general discussion, some ribaldry, and a +gentle twitting of Master Davys' earnestness. + +Cavendish, listening bright-eyed to all this discourse, ventured a word +here and there, and presently spoke of his own plans. He had three +ships fitting out for a West Indian expedition, and was agog to follow +brave examples set him. Sir Nicholas wished him God-speed, and drank +success to his venture. He found the grave, considering grey eyes of +young Richard Hawkins upon him. He threw him a gay word, and young +Richard blushed, and laughed. + +"This babe sails with you, Drake?" Sir Nicholas said. "Well-a-day! I +left him scarce out of his swaddling-bands!" + +"Ay, ay," Drake said. "All alike, these Hawkins--born to the sea. Did +you have speech with old Master Hawkins at Plymouth?" + +"Long speech, over a tankard of rare beer. I hear the great John grows +greater still, Richard." + +"My father talks of war with Spain," Richard said. "He says Walsingham +looks keenly for it." + +"A cup to the happy day!" Beauvallet said. + +Frobisher struck in to inquire of Beauvallet's plans; Master Davys, +aroused from a dish of eels, struck the table with his clenched fist, +and loudly bade Beauvallet sail with him to the North-West passage. + +Beauvallet turned it off with a laugh, and gave Frobisher an evasive +answer. Drake looked sideways again. + +But it was not until much later, when these two sat alone in the empty +room, over a fire of sea-coal, that Drake put his question. Then he +puffed at his long pipe, and stretched his massive legs out before him, +and looked up at Beauvallet out of his narrow, all-seeing eyes. "What +devilment, Nick? Let me have it." + +Beauvallet brought his quick gaze up from the red heart of the fire, +and looked challengingly. "Why must I needs have devilment in mind?" + +Drake pointed the stem of his pipe. "I know you, Nick, d'ye see? You've +not given me the full sum of it, but Martin jumped your fine secret for +you." + +So he had it then, in a few graphic words. It made his jaw drop a +little, but it made him twinkle too. "Pretty, very pretty!" he said. +"But what now?" + +"I shall go to Spain to fetch her," answered Sir Nicholas, in much the +same tone as he would have said he would go to Westminster. + +At that Drake let out a mighty echoing laugh. "God amend all!" He +sobered suddenly, and leaning forward took Beauvallet's arm in a strong +hold. "Look you. Nick, ha' done. Art too good a man to be lost." + +The gleaming blue eyes met those long grey ones for an instant. "Do you +think I shall be lost then?" + +Drake twisted his beard upwards, and chewed the end of it. "Well, +you're human." His shoulders began to shake again. "Ho, pull me +Philip's long nose, Nick, if ye see his Satanic Majesty! You would +come safe out of hell, I dare swear. But how to come into Spain? Your +smuggling port?" + +"Nay, I had thought of it, but it's to court exposure. I must have +papers to show at need. The plague is on it we have no ambassador in +Madrid to-day." + +"English papers would never serve," Drake said. "You're frustrated at +the very outset. Go to, put the folly aside." + +"Not I, by God! I shall try my fortune with my French kinsmen." + +"God's Death, have you any?" + +"A-many. One in particular would be glad to serve me for old times +sake, I believe. The Marquis de Belrémy, with whom I travelled many +leagues on the Continent, years ago. Ay, and we saw some scrapes +together, God wot!" He laughed softly, remembering. "If he can put me +in the way to get French papers, well. If not--I shall still find a +way." + +Drake puffed in silence for a moment. "And a license to travel over +seas, Master Madman. Letters of Marque won't serve for this emprise. +It's in my mind the Queen may have other plans for you than to lose you +in a hare-brained venture to Spain." + +"Trust me to get a license. If the Queen will not, think you Walsingham +would be so nice?" + +Drake pulled a grimace. "Ay, marry, we know he'd be glad enough to send +a spy into Spain. Beshrew your heart, Nick, it's madness! Do you hold +your life of so mean account?" + +"Nay, but it's charmed. Yourself said so, Drake. Where lies the Court?" + +"At Westminster." + +"Then I'm for Westminster to-morrow," said Sir Nicholas. + +He came to the palace in the forenoon of the next day, very bravely +tricked out in a slashed doublet, scented with musk, and his beard +fresh trimmed. He had a cloak of the Burgundian cut aswirl from his +shoulders, and caught up carelessly over one arm. It was not difficult +to gain access to the palace, especially for Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, +who was known to be a favourite with the Queen's Grace. She had always +a soft corner in her heart for a handsome dare-devil. + +Sir Nicholas reached, without difficulty, one of the Long Galleries to +which he had been directed. Some of the Queen's ladies were gathered +here, and many of the court gallants. He learned that the Queen was +closeted with the French Ambassador, Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir +James Crofts in attendance. This he had from the Vice-Chancellor, Sir +Christopher Hatton, strutting in the gallery. Hatton gave him a cool, +polite greeting, and two fingers to do what he willed with. Beauvallet +let them fall soon enough, and fell into talk with the elegant and +grave Raleigh, also waiting for her Grace to come into the gallery. Sir +Christopher rolled a fiery eye, and seemed to withdraw the hem of his +garment from Raleigh's vicinity. At that Sir Nicholas grinned openly. +Sir Christopher's jealousies seemed to him absurd. + +He had to wait perhaps half an hour, but he employed his time +pleasantly enough, and very soon drew a shocked titter from one of +the Maids of Honour, who rated him for a bold, saucy fellow. This he +certainly was. + +There came a stir at the far end of the gallery; a curtain was held +back, and four people came slowly into the gallery. First of these +was the Queen, a thin lady of no more than middle-height, but mounted +on very high heels. A huge ruff, spangled with gems, rose behind +her head, which was of fiery colour, much crimped and curled, and +elaborately dressed with jewelled combs, and the like. Still more +monstrous loomed her farthingale, and her sleeves were puffed out +from her arms, and sewn over with jewels. She was dazzling to behold, +arrayed in the richest stuffs, glinting with precious stones. She drew +all eyes, but she would still have done so had she been dressed in the +simplest fustian. Her face might have been a mask for the paint that +covered it, but her eyes were very much alive: strange, dark eyes, not +large, but very bright, and oddly piercing. + +A little behind her, his hand upon the curtain, De Mauvissière bent +his stately head to listen deferentially to some word she had flung at +him over her shoulder. Behind him Sir Francis Walsingham was folding +a scrap of paper, which anon he handed to Crofts, frowning in the +background. Sir Francis' unfathomable, rather sad eyes, seemed to +embrace everyone in the gallery. They rested thoughtfully on Beauvallet +for a moment, but he made no sign. + +De Mauvissière bent to kiss the Queen's hand. She was tapping her foot, +and her eyes snapped dangerously. Her ladies, being familiar with the +signs, knew some misgivings. + +De Mauvissière went out backwards, bowing; the Queen nodded, and still +tapped with one foot. She was out of temper, flashed an angry glance at +her two ministers, and hunched a pettish shoulder. + +Walsingham crooked a long finger. His royal mistress must be diverted: +not Hatton, not Raleigh, whom she might see every day, would serve. Sir +Nicholas Beauvallet was come in a good hour. + +"God's Death!" swore her Grace, "It seems I am right well entreated!" + +There was a quick step; a gentleman was on his knee before her, and +dared to look up, twinkling, into her face. + +"God's Death!" swore her Grace again, hugely delighted. "Beauvallet!" + +Well, he had her hand to kiss, got a rap over the knuckles from her +fan, and was bidden rise up. The storm had passed over; her Grace was +happily diverted. Walsingham might hide a quiet smile in his beard; Sir +James Crofts could banish his worried frown. + +"Ha, rogue!" said her Grace, showing teeth a little discoloured in a +smile of great good-humour. "So you return again!" + +"As a needle to the magnet, madam," Sir Nicholas said promptly. + +She leaned on his arm, and took a few steps with him down the gallery. +"What news do ye bring me of my good cousin of Spain?" + +"Alack, madam, to my sure knowledge he hath lost three good ships: a +carrack, and two tall galleons." + +Her bright eyes looked sidelong at him. "So! So! To whom fell they a +prey?" + +"To a rogue, madam. One named Beauvallet." + +She burst out laughing. "I swear I love thee well, my merry ruffler!" +She beckoned up Walsingham, and gave him the news. "What must we do +with him, Sir Francis?" she demanded. "Ask of me, my rogue, and ye +shall have." She awaited his answer without misgiving for well she +knew that he was in need of naught, but was come instead to enrich her +coffers. + +"Two boons, madam, I crave on my knees." + +"God's Son! This is churlish-sounding, by my faith! Name 'em then." + +"The first is that your Grace will accept of a New Year's gift I am +come so tardily to offer--a trifle of rubies, no more. The second is +that your Grace will give me leave to travel into France for a space." + +That did not please her so well. She frowned over it, and would know +more. "I vow I'll give you a place about the Court," she said. + +It was his turn to frown. Your true courtier would have smiled, and +murmured his eternal devotion. This Mad Nicholas must needs twitch his +black brows together, and give a quick unmannerly shake of his head. + +"By God, you're a saucy knave!" her Grace said stridently. But she +sounded more amused than angered. "What's this? You'll none?" + +"Give me leave to travel awhile, madam," begged Sir Nicholas. + +"I'm minded to box your ears, sirrah!" said her Grace. + +"Oh, madam, forgive a tongue unused to speak softly! I had rather serve +you with the strong arm abroad than lie idle at your Court." + +"Well! well! That's prettily spoken, eh, Walsingham? But I don't need +your strong arm in France. Nay, I grant no licence to you. Be plain +with me, sirrah!" She saw his blue eyes dancing, and struck him lightly +on the arm with her fan. "Ha, you laugh? God's Death, you are a daring +rogue! Let me hear it. Speak, Beauvallet: the Queen listens." + +"Madam, I'll not deceive you." Beauvallet dropped to his knee. "Give +me leave to go into Spain awhile." + +This startling request fell into an amazed silence. Then her Grace +burst out again into her loud laugh, and those at the far end of the +gallery envied Mad Nicholas who could so amuse the Queen. "A jest! An +idle jest!" the Queen rapped out. But her piercing gaze was intent upon +him. "Wherefor, then?" + +"Madam, to perform a vow. Grant me so small a boon." + +"Grant you leave to throw away your life? What shall that profit me? Do +you hear this, Walsingham? Is the man mad in good sooth, think you?" + +Walsingham was stroking his beard. He too watched Sir Nicholas, but +there was no reading what was in his mind. "Sir Nicholas might haply +bring news out of Spain," he said slowly. + +The Queen turned an impatient shoulder. "Oh, get some other to do your +spies' work, sir! Well, and if I grant this boon, Sir Nicholas? What +then?" + +"Why, madam, only tell me what you would have me bring you out of +Spain?" + +Maybe the swift rejoinder pleased her; maybe she was curious to know +what he would do. She said gaily:--"Marry, the best that Spain holds, +sir. Mind you that!" + +Then Walsingham spoke in his soft, cold voice, leading the talk away +from this request. Beauvallet was content to have it so. The Queen gave +neither yea nor nay, but Sir Francis Walsingham would certainly give +a licence to Sir Nicholas Beauvallet for the good intelligence he saw +might come of it. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + +It was over three months later that Sir Nicholas Beauvallet went riding +southwards from Paris towards the Spanish border. There had been +some necessary delay at home: treasure to be bestowed at the Queen's +pleasure, and his own affairs to look to. He had also to visit his +sister in Worcestershire, and she would not soon let him go. He made +a merry month of it there, but told Adela nothing of his plans, and +trifled shamelessly with the ladies she brought forward to tempt him +into matrimony. + +The licence to travel was obtained from Walsingham easily enough. +Beauvallet was closeted with this enigmatic man for a full hour, and +protested afterwards that the Secretary made him shiver. But it is +believed that they were much of a mind in that both would welcome war +with Spain. + +With Joshua Dimmock, and a fair stock of money against his needs Sir +Nicholas came at last to Paris, and inquired for his distant kinsman, +Eustache de Beauvallet, Marquis de Belrémy. This nobleman, whom +Nicholas had not met since certain riotous days in Italy, when both +were in the early twenties, was not to be found at his town house. His +servants reported him to be at Belrémy, in Normandy, but Beauvallet +heard other news that placed the Marquis further south, on a visit +to a friend. There was nothing to be gained from seeking the elusive +Marquis through France; Beauvallet swore genially at the delay, and +sat him down to await his kinsman's return. He did not visit either +the English ambassador, or the Court of Henri III. For the one, he +preferred his presence in France to be unknown; for the other, the +fopperies of the French Court were not at all to his taste. He found +the means to amuse himself outside the Court, and passed the time very +pleasantly. + +At the end of a month the Marquis returned to Paris, and hearing of +Beauvallet's visit, straightway kicked his major-domo for allowing his +so dear kinsman to lodge otherwhere than in his house, and set forth at +once in a horse-litter to find Sir Nicholas. + +Beauvallet had a comfortable lodging near the Seine. It suited him +very well, but Joshua muttered darkly, and saw a Catholic murderer in +every convivial guest who came there. Saint Bartholomew's Day was fresh +enough yet in a plain Englishman's mind, said he. + +The Marquis, a wiry, resplendent personage, no more than a year older +than Beauvallet, came tempestuously into his room, and clasped his +kinsman in an ecstatic embrace with many suitable exclamations and +reproaches. It was long before Beauvallet could come to his business, +for the Marquis had much to say, and much to ask, and many mad memories +to recall. But at length the reason for this visit was asked, and then +they came to grips. When the Marquis heard that Sir Nicholas wanted +a French pass into Spain he at first threw up hands of despair, and +cried "Impossible!" At the end of half an hour he said:--"Well, well, +perhaps! But it is madness, and it will be a forgery, and you are +a good-for-naught to ask it of me!" Within the week he brought the +pass, and said only "Aha!" when Beauvallet asked how he had managed +to procure it. It gave leave for a M. Gaston de Beauvallet to travel +abroad. Beauvallet learned that this Gaston was a cousin of the +Marquis, and chuckled. + +"But look you, my friend!" the Marquis cautioned him. "Do not stumble +upon our Ambassador, for he knows Gaston well, and us all. I caution +you, be wary! Ah, but to travel into Spain at all! And with that name! +Madness! Unutterable folly!" + +"_Basta, basta!_" said Sir Nicholas, and frowned upon the pass. + +Now as he rode south it was in his mind that this pass, though it would +safely carry him across the Frontier was likely to lead him to exposure +at Madrid. He rode in silence, pondering it rather ruefully, but +presently he twitched his shoulders as though to cast off these cares, +and spurred his horse to a gallop. Joshua, following at a soberer pace +with a led sumpter, watched his master disappear down the road in a +cloud of dust, and shook his head. "Our last venture," said Joshua, and +kicked his horse to a brisker pace. "A plague on all women! Come up, +jade!" + +They made no great haste on the journey, for Sir Nicholas was loth to +part with the horse he had bought in Paris. It bore him nobly, and he +cherished it well. They went south by degrees, resting at the inns +along the post road, and came at last to a lonely tavern within half a +day's ride of the Frontier. + +It lay in a squalid village, and was obviously unfrequented by +travellers. The last great inn they had passed housed a sick man, whom +Joshua was quick to nose out. He got wind of a pestilent fever, and was +urgent with his master not to remain. The afternoon was young yet, and +the sun warm. Beauvallet consented to ride on. + +So they came at dusk to this rude inn, lying a little way off the post +road. None came forth to welcome them, so Joshua went to kick the door, +and raised a shout. Mine host came out, surly-seeming, but when he saw +so richly caparisoned a gentleman he lost his scowl, and bowed to the +ground. There was a room for the gentleman to be sure, if monseigneur +would condescend to this poor abode. + +"I condescend," said Sir Nicholas. "Have you a truckle-bed, my man? +Then set it up in my chamber for my servant." He swung himself down +from the saddle, and fondled his mare a moment. "Eh, my beauty!" He had +had her through the Marquis' advice, a fine, fleet black, with powerful +quarters, and a mouth of velvet. "Take her, Joshua." He stretched +himself, and swore at his stiffness. The landlord set open the door, +and bowed him into the low-pitched taproom. + +Beauvallet sent him to fetch wine, and seemed to snuff the air. +"Faugh!" It was squalid in the taproom, of a piece with the untidy yard +without. He went to the window and forced it open to let in the clean +air. + +The landlord came back with the wine, looked askance at the open +window, and muttered a little under his breath. Sir Nicholas drank +deeply, and upon the shuffling entrance of an out-at-elbows servant, +stretched out his legs to have the high boots pulled off. + +He was at supper--a meagre collation which drew sundry pungent remarks +from Joshua--when there came the sound of a led horse on the cobbles +outside. A moment later the door was thrust open, and a young +gentleman came in, very out of temper. + +He was dressed richly, but dust lay on his fine clothes. He scowled +at Beauvallet, seated at the table, and shouted for the landlord. +Upon this worthy's coming the young gentleman burst into a flood of +angry talk. His woes seemed to be many. There was, to start with, the +excessive dust upon the road which had well-nigh choked him; to go on, +there was a sick man at the regular inn some miles back; to crown his +troubles his horse had gone lame, the jade, and another must be brought +him on the instant. + +Having delivered himself of this demand my fine gentleman flung off his +cloak, bespoke supper, and sat down on the settle with the air of a +thwarted school-boy. + +The problem of horse-flesh was beyond the landlord's solving. He gave +his new guest to understand that he had no riding horse in his stables, +nor could he tell where any might be found in this hamlet. Monsieur +must send to the nearest town, back along the road. + +At this monsieur let forth an oath, and declared that he had no time to +waste, but must be gone over the Frontier first thing in the morning. +Mine host had nothing to say to this, but shrugged sullenly, and turned +away. His ear was seized between a finger and thumb. "Look you! a +horse, and swiftly!" snarled monsieur. + +"I keep no horse," reiterated the landlord. He rubbed his ear, +aggrieved. "There are but two horses in my barn, and they belong to +this gentleman." + +Upon this monsieur became aware of Beauvallet, struggling with a tough +fowl. He bowed slightly. Sir Nicholas raised an eyebrow, and nodded in +return, wasting little ceremony. + +"Give you good-evening, monsieur." The young gentleman tried to conceal +his ill-temper. "You will have heard that I have suffered a misfortune." + +"Ay, faith, the whole house will have heard it," said Sir Nicholas, and +poured more wine. + +Monsieur bit his lip. "I have urgent need of a horse," he announced. "I +shall be happy to buy one or other of your nags, if you will sell." + +"A thousand thanks," Sir Nicholas answered. + +Monsieur brightened. "You will oblige me?" + +"Desolated, sir! I cannot oblige you," said Sir Nicholas, who had small +mind to part with his horses. + +This seemed final, to be sure. A rich colour mounted to monsieur's +cheeks; he choked back his spleen, and condescended to plead, though +stiffly. + +Sir Nicholas tilted back his chair, and tucked his hands in his belt. +He looked mockingly at the young Frenchman. "My good young sir, I +counsel you to be patient," he said, "You may send to the town in the +morning, and procure a horse against your needs. I do not part with +mine." + +"One of these nags!" Monsieur snorted. "I do not think that would suit +me, sir." + +"And I am quite sure it would not suit me, sir," said Sir Nicholas. + +The Frenchman looked at him with evident dislike. "I have informed you, +sir, that my need is instant." + +Sir Nicholas yawned. + +For a moment the Frenchman seemed inclined to burst forth into fresh +vituperations. He bit his nails, glaring, and took a quick turn about +the room. "You use me ungraciously!" he flung over his shoulder. + +"Well-a-day!" said Sir Nicholas ironically. + +Monsieur took yet another turn, seemed again to choke back some hasty +utterance, and at length forced a smile. "Well, I will not quarrel with +you," he said, + +"You would find it very difficult," nodded Sir Nicholas. + +Monsieur opened his mouth, shut it again, and swallowed hard. "Permit +me to share your board," he said at last. + +"With all my heart, youngling," Sir Nicholas answered, but there had +come a watchful gleam into his eyes. + +But the Frenchman seemed to cast aside his evil-humours in good sooth. +True, he railed a little at ill-fortune, but was forward with plans for +the acquisition of a horse upon the morrow. The plague was on it he +could scarce hope to get across the Frontier now for two days. As he +remembered the town lay many leagues behind--but he would not complain. +He pledged Beauvallet in a brimming cup. + +Supper being at an end, monsieur grew restless, complained of the +ill-entertainment, pished at the poor light afforded by two tallow +candles, and at length proposed an encounter with the dice, if such +might chance to jump with monsieur's humour. + +"Excellent well," said Beauvallet, and banged on the table with his +empty cup to summon back the landlord. Dice were brought, more wine was +set upon the table, and the evening bade fair to be merry. + +The dice rattled in the box. "A main!" said monsieur. + +Beauvallet called it, and cast the dice. Monsieur rattled the bones, +and threw a nick. Coins were pushed across the greasy boards; fresh +wine was poured; the two men bent over the table, absorbed in the game. + +It was a merry evening enough. The candles burned low in their sockets; +the wine passed freely, and more freely yet; money changed hands, back +and forth. At last one of the candles guttered dismally, and went +out. Beauvallet thrust back his chair, and passed a hand across his +brow. "Enough!" he said, somewhat thickly. "God's me, after midnight +already?" He rose unsteadily, and stretched his arms above his head. +This made for a slight stagger. He laughed. "Cup-shotten!" he said, and +laughed again, and swayed a little on his toes. + +The Frenchman sprang up, steady enough upon his feet, but flushed, and +somewhat wild-eyed. He had not drunk as much as Beauvallet. "A last +toast!" he cried, and slopped more wine into the empty cups. "To a +speedy journey, say I!" + +"God save you!" said Beauvallet. He drank deep, and sent the empty cup +spinning over his shoulder to crash against the wall behind him. "One +candle between the two of us." He picked it up, and the hot tallow +dripped on to the floor. "Up with you, youngling." He stood at the +foot of the rickety stairs, holding the candle unsteadily aloft. The +dim light flickered over the steps; the Frenchman went up, with a hand +against the wall. + +Upstairs a lantern, burning low, was discovered. The Frenchman took it, +called a good-night, and went into his chamber. Sir Nicholas, yawning +prodigiously, sought his own, and stumbled over the low truckle-bed on +which Joshua lay peacefully asleep. "God's Death!" swore Sir Nicholas. + +Joshua was awakened by a drop of tallow alighting on his nose, and +started up, rubbing the afflicted member. + +Beauvallet set down the candle, laughing. "My poor Joshua!" + +"Master, you are in your cups," Joshua said severely. + +"None so deep," said Sir Nicholas cheerfully, and found the basin and +ewer that stood upon a rude chest. There was a great splashing of +water, and a spluttering. "Pouf!" said Sir Nicholas, towelling his +head. "Go to sleep, starveling. What are you at?" + +Joshua was for rising. "You've need to come out of those clothes, sir," +said he. + +"Oh, let be!" said Beauvallet, and flung himself down as he was upon +the bed. + +The candle went out, but the moonlight shone in at the uncurtained +window. It lit Beauvallet's face, but could not keep him awake. Soon a +snore disturbed the stillness, and then another. + +He was awakened out of a deep sleep by a hand shaking his shoulder, and +a hissing whisper in his ear. He came groping out of the mists, felt +the clutch upon his shoulder, and of instinct shot out a pair of hands +to grasp the unknown's throat. "Ha, dog!" + +Joshua choked, and tried to tear apart the gripping fingers. "'Tis +I--Joshua!" he gasped. + +The grip slackened at once. Sir Nicholas sat up, and was shaken with +laughter. "Ye were nigh sped that time, chewet! What a-plague ails you +to come pawing me?" + +"Matter enough," Joshua said. "Ha' done with your laughter, sir! Yon +Frenchman's crept below stairs to steal the mare." + +"What!" Beauvallet swung his legs off the bed, and felt for his shoon. +"Cock's passion, that whey-faced maltworm! How learned you this?" + +Joshua was groping for his breeches. "I waked to hear one go creeping +down the stairs. A step creaked. Be sure I was alert upon the instant! +_I_ do not fall cup-shotten into a stupor." + +"Peace, you elf-skin! What then?" + +"Then might I hear the door open stealthily below, and in a moment a +cloaked fellow with a lantern crosses the yard to the barn. Ho, thinks +I----" + +"Give me my sword," Beauvallet interrupted, and made for the door. + +"I shall be with you on the instant!" Joshua hissed after him. "A +plague on these points!" + +Sir Nicholas went swiftly down the stairs, sword in hand, and crossed +the taproom in two bounds to the door. Outside in the yard was bright +moonlight, and to the right the barn cast a great black shadow. Through +the door came the glimmer of a lantern, and the muffled sound of +movement. + +Beauvallet gave his head a little shake, as though to cast off the +lingering fumes of the wine he had drunk, and went forward, cat-like, +over the cobbles. + +Inside the barn the Frenchman was hurriedly buckling saddle-girths. +Beauvallet's mare was bridled already. A lantern stood upon the baked +mud floor, and the Frenchman's cloak and hat were flung down beside it. +His fingers trembled a little as he tugged at the straps; his back was +turned towards the door. + +There came a sound to make him jump well-nigh out of his skin, and spin +round to face the door. Sir Nicholas stood there with a naked sword in +his hand, laughing at him. + +"Oho, my young iniquity!" said Sir Nicholas, and laughed again. "Now I +think you are shent!" + +For an instant the Frenchman stood at gaze, his face all twisted with +fury. And Beauvallet set his sword point to the ground, and laughed at +his discomfiture. Then, suddenly, the Frenchman sprang forward, tearing +his sword from the scabbard, and in his leap contrived to kick over the +lantern, and put out its frail light. Sir Nicholas stood in the shaft +of moonlight in the open doorway, but all else in the barn was pitch +dark. + +Beauvallet's sword flashed out before him; he sprang lightly to one +side, felt a blade thrust within a hair's breadth of his shoulder, and +lunged swiftly forward. His point went home; there was a choked gurgle, +the clatter of a sword falling to earth, and a dull thud. + +Beauvallet swore beneath his breath, and stood listening, backed +against the wall, with a shortened sword. Only the uneasy snorting and +pawing of the horses broke the silence. He moved forward cautiously, +and stumbled against something that lay on the ground at his feet. +"God's Body, have I killed the boy?" he muttered, and bent over the +still figure. + +Across the yard Joshua came running at full-tilt, and bounded into the +barn. "'Swounds! What's here? Master? Sir Nicholas!" + +"A plague on your screechings! Help me with this carcass." + +"What, dead?" gasped Joshua, feeling in the darkness. + +"I know not." Sir Nicholas spoke curtly. "Take you his legs, and help +me to bear him out. So!" + +They carried their burden out into the moonlight, and laid it down on +the cobbles. Beauvallet knelt, and stripped open the elegant doublet, +feeling for the heart. A clean-edged wound was there, deep and true. + +"Peste, I thrust better than I knew," Beauvallet muttered. "The devil! +But the young traitor sought to murder me. What's this?" + +A silken packet was in his hand, attached to a riband about the dead +man's neck. + +"Open," said Joshua, shivering. "Perchance you might learn his name." + +"What should that benefit me, fool?" But Sir Nicholas took the packet, +and thrust it into his doublet. "This is to ruin all. We must bury him, +Joshua, and that speedily. No noise mind!" + +"Bury! With your sword?" Joshua said. "The evil hour! Nay, wait! As I +remember there are tools within the barn." + +An hour later, the grim work done, Sir Nicholas, thoroughly sobered +now, came softly back to the inn. He was frowning a little. This was +an ill happening, and had gone otherwise than he had planned. Yet who +would have thought that the young fool would play the traitor so? He +mounted silently to his chamber again, and sat down on the bed, while +Joshua relit the lantern. + +It was set upon the chest. Beauvallet slowly wiped his sword, and +returned it to its scabbard. He drew forth the packet from his breast, +and slit open the silk with his dagger. Crackling sheets of paper +were inside. Beauvallet bent towards the lamp. His eyes ran over the +first sheet frowningly, and came to rest on the signature. A short +exclamation broke from him, and he pulled the lantern nearer yet. He +held a letter from the Guise to King Philip in his hand, but the bulk +of it was writ in cypher. + +Joshua, inquisitively hovering at hand, ventured a question. "What is +it, master? Doth the writing give his name, perchance?" + +Beauvallet was looking now at a fair-inscribed pass. "It seems, my +Joshua," he said, "that I have slain a scion of the house of Guise." + +"God mend my soul!" quoth Joshua. "Shall it serve, master? Shall we +turn it to good account?" + +"Since these purport to be papers writ to his Catholic Majesty it seems +we may turn it to very good account," Sir Nicholas said, poring over +the first paper again. "Now, I have some knowledge of cyphers, as I +believe...." He looked up. "Get you to bed, rogue, get you to bed!" + +An hour later Joshua, waking as he turned on his bed, saw Sir Nicholas +seated still by the chest, with a soaked cloth bound about a head which +Joshua judged had good cause to ache, and his brows close-knit over the +papers. Joshua closed his eyes again, and sank back into slumber. + +He woke again to broad daylight. Sir Nicholas lay asleep in the big +bed; there was no sign of the papers. Joshua dressed softly, and stole +away downstairs. He found there a perplexed landlord who was loud in +abuse of the young gentleman who had stolen away in the night without +paying his shot. Joshua's casual interest in this was well acted. He +asked the proper questions, exclaimed piously at such behaviour, and +thought privately of the night's work. + +In a little while the voice of Sir Nicholas was heard, calling for his +man. Joshua skipped upstairs with a tray bearing his master's breakfast. + +Sir Nicholas was wide awake, and as brisk as though he had not sat up +through the night puzzling over a cypher. His eyes were bright and +unclouded; only a damp cloth on the floor bore witness of the night's +labours. + +Joshua set down the tray, and shook out a clean shirt for Sir Nicholas. +"Look you, master, there is a deal of pother below, on account of +we-know-what. Where is the man gone? why is he gone? I do not presume +to answer, me, but I consider it meet we should make all speed over the +Frontier." + +"Just as soon as I have broken my fast," said Beauvallet. "See that +door well-shut. Now, rogue, give ear a minute." He drank some wine, and +broke off a piece of rye bread. "I am become overnight the Chevalier +Claude de Guise, do ye mark me?" + +"Well, master. I said we might turn all to good account." + +"The best. I don't fathom all these papers, and one is sealed fast. But +enough to serve, I judge. Matters too high for you, but ye may know +that we travel henceforth as a secret messenger from the Guise to King +Philip. Hey, but I have meat for Walsingham in this!" He stretched, and +reached out a hand for his shirt. "A great venture, rogue--the greatest +I have been on." + +"Like to end in nasty wise," Joshua grumbled. "Secret messengers, +forsooth! Ay, we shall be so secret there's none will hear of us again." + +"An ill jest. This as mad a quest as I have ever known. Does your +courage fail? Turn back then, you have still time." + +Joshua threw out his chest. "Ho, pretty speaking! I follow to the end. +Moreover, it has been foretold that I shall die in my bed. What have I +to fear?" + +"On then," said Sir Nicholas, and laughed. "On, and reck not!" + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + +It was an easy matter to cross the Frontier, armed with the Chevalier +de Guise's credentials. From as much of the despatch to Philip as +he could read, or was not sealed, Beauvallet had learned that the +youthful Frenchman was some sort of a cousin to the Duc de Guise, and +it seemed probable from so particular a mention of him that he had not +been employed on an errand into Spain before. Beauvallet did not doubt +that he could brave out the imposture, but he knew that he carried his +life in his hand. One evil chance, one Frenchman in Madrid to whom the +Chevalier was known, and he might expect to find himself sped. The +knowledge made him set his horse caracolling on the road, never so +keenly enjoying life as when he stood in danger of losing it. He tossed +his sword up in the air, and caught it deftly as it fell. The sunlight +glinted all along the shimmering blade. Between eight crowns the name +Andrea Ferrara was inscribed, and beneath it a pungent motto:--_My bite +is sure_. "A sword and my wits against all Spain!" sang out Beauvallet, +and whistled a catch between his teeth. Then he fell to thinking of her +whom he went to seek, and the leagues passed uncounted. + +There was time enough for meditation during these long days upon the +road, for it took them close on two weeks to come within sight of +Madrid, a white town perched on a spur above a vast plateau, looking +north over many windy leagues to the Guadarrama Mountains, and south to +the grand chain that guarded Toledo. + +The roads called forth curses from Joshua, struggling with the led +sumpter. Years ago he had journeyed into Spain with Beauvallet, but +he protested that he had forgotten long since how incomparably bad +were the roads. He rode to the rear, and observed all with bright, +calculating eyes. "Naught but sheep!" he grunted. "Enough to ravage +the land. God's Life, but this is a poor country! Ruin stares us in +the face, master, from all sides. Here are no crops, no snug farmers. +Naught but bare rocks, and dust. And sheep--I forget the sheep, which +you would have thought hardly possible. Why, call you this a road? Ho, +we Englishmen can still teach the Spaniards some few matters, it seems!" + +"Set a guard on that tongue of yours," Beauvallet said sharply. "Let me +hear no talk of Englishmen. Ay, this is a waste country. Now, how might +a runner go at speed, to the Frontier, let us say?" + +"He might not, master, on these roads, without foundering. It's a land +of the Dark Ages, one would say. Bethink you of the fair manor my lord +has built him in Alreston, and look on these grim fortresses!" He spoke +of a gloomy castle seen some miles back along the road, and shuddered. +"Nay, I like not this land. It frowns, master! Mark what I say, it +frowns!" + +Over the Guadarrama Mountains they climbed, and dropped on to the +great, parched plateau. They rode league upon weary league, and at last +saw Madrid ahead, and came to it in the cold of the evening. Joshua +shivered on his horse, and muttered against a climate so extreme. He +was roasted by day, he swore, but when evening fell Arctic winds arose +that were like to lay him low of a fever. + +Beauvallet knew Madrid of old, but found it grown since his day. He +made his way to the inn of the Rising Sun, lying some paces off the +Puerta del Sol. It was not necessary to caution Joshua again. That +wiry individual ceased complaining as they climbed the steep streets +into the heart of the town, and might be trusted to carry all off with +a bold front. Beauvallet had no fear of unwitting betrayal from him. +French he spoke fluently, if roughly, and Spanish very fairly. He was +not likely to slip into his own tongue through inability to find words +in a foreign language. + +Sir Nicholas bespoke a private room at the inn, and supped there that +evening, waited on by Joshua. "Since it is very certain that the French +Ambassador is not privy to this correspondence I carry, you will say, +Joshua, that I am travelling for my pleasure. You know naught of secret +documents." + +"Master, what will you do with those papers?" Joshua asked uneasily. + +The corners of Sir Nicholas' mouth lifted under the trim moustachio. +"Why, present them to his Catholic Majesty! What else?" + +"'S death, sir, will you go into the lion's den?" quaked Joshua. + +"I know of only one lion, sirrah, and that one is not to be found in +Spain!" Beauvallet said. "I am bound on the morrow for the Alcazar. Lay +me out a rich suit of the French cut." He brought out the stolen papers +from his bosom, and laid them on the table. "And stitch me these safe +in a length of silk." His eyes twinkled. "What, do you tremble still? +Cross yourself, and say Jesu! It's in the part." + +Access to the Alcazar was not found to be so easy as access to any of +Queen Elizabeth's palaces. There was a long delay, many questions, and +the pseudo-Chevalier's credentials were taken from him while he was +left to cool his heels in the great austere hall. + +He sat down on a carved chair of cypress wood, and looked about him +with interest. There was much sombre marble, much rich brocade, and +hangings of Flanders tapestry depicting the martyrdoms of various +saints. A statue in bronze stood at the foot of the wide stairway; +there were Turkey carpets on the floor, strange sight to an English +eye, so that footsteps fell muffled. Certain, there was no sound in the +Alcazar. Lackeys stood graven on either side the great door; sundry +personages passed across the hall from time to time, but they spoke +no word. There was a courtier, all in silk and velvet; a soberly clad +individual whom Beauvallet took to be a secretary; a priest of the +Dominican order with his cowl shading his face, and his hands hidden in +the wide sleeves of his habit; an elderly man who looked curiously at +Beauvallet; an officer of the guard, a hurrying woman who might be a +maid of honour. + +It was oppressive in the lofty hall; the very hush of the place might +have preyed on nerves less hardy than Beauvallet's. Here, to an +Englishman, was a place of grim foreboding, of lurking terror. It did +not need the sight of that dark priest to conjure up hideous pictures +to the mind. + +But Sir Nicholas saw no hideous pictures, and his pulse beat as +steadily as ever. A false step, and he would never again see England: +with a kind of brazen dare-devilry he was confident there would be no +false step. In Paris, a month ago, the Marquis de Belrémy had said +aghast:--"_Mon Dieu, quel sang-froid!_" Could he have set eyes on +his kinsman now he would have been still more aghast, and might have +repeated with even more conviction, that Nicholas would sit jesting in +hell's mouth itself. + +After a full half-hour's wait the lackey came back with a long-gowned, +close shaven secretary who looked keenly at Beauvallet. "You are the +Chevalier de Guise?" he asked in French. + +Sir Nicholas was swinging his golden pomander. He did not think, from +his knowledge of them, that the Guise would rise out of their seats for +a mere scrivener. Gravely he bowed his head. + +"You have letters for his Majesty?" pursued the secretary. + +Again Beauvallet bowed, and knew that he was creating a good +impression. Privately he thought: "Our sovereign keeps men of better +blood than this about her, God wot!" He was very quick to nose out the +parvenu. + +The secretary bowed in his turn, and held out his hand. "I will deliver +them to his Majesty, señor." + +At that Beauvallet raised his black brows delicately. Maybe he thought +it more in the part, maybe it was the audacity of the man, or a mere +curiosity to see this far-famed Philip, but he said gently: "My orders, +señor, are to deliver these letters into his Majesty's own hands." + +The secretary bowed again. "All goes very well," thought Beauvallet, +watching him like a lynx, in spite of his careless demeanour. + +"Follow me, señor, if you please," said the secretary, and led the way +up the stairs to a long gallery above. + +Down a labyrinth of corridors they seemed to walk, until they came to +a curtained doorway. Beauvallet went through into a severely furnished +chamber, and was left there to wait again. + +More martyrdoms hung on the walls. Sir Nicholas grimaced at them, and +deplored his Catholic Majesty's taste. Another half-hour passed; King +Philip was in no hurry, it seemed. Sir Nicholas looked out of the +window on to a paved court, and yawned from time to time. + +Back came the secretary at last. "His Majesty will receive you, señor," +he said, and gave back the Chevalier's credentials into his keeping. +"This way, if you please." He held back the curtain for Beauvallet to +pass out, and led him across the corridor to double doors. These opened +at his scratch upon the solid panels; Sir Nicholas found himself in +an ante-chamber where two men sat writing at a table, and two guards +stood beside the doors. He followed the secretary across the room to a +curtained archway; the curtain was swung back by a guard there, and the +secretary went through. "The Chevalier de Guise, sire," he said, bowing +very low, and drew back a little against the wall. + +Sir Nicholas came coolly in, paused a moment as the curtain fell back +into place behind him, and in one swift glance noted the contents of +this bare, cell-like apartment. There was little enough to note. A +chest, an escritoire, a priest by the window, a table in the middle of +the room, and behind it, seated in a high-backed chair with arms, with +his foot upon a velvet stool, a pallid man with sparse yellow locks, +flecked with grey; and a yellow beard, scant as his meagre thatch; and +hooded eyes, sombre and vulturine under the puckered lids. + +Sir Nicholas sank gracefully down on to his knee; the plumes in his +hat swept the ground before him. "God's my life!" was his irrepressible +thought. "The two of us in one small room, and he does not know it!" + +"The Chevalier de Guise," repeated Philip in a slow, harsh voice. "We +bid you welcome, señor." + +But there was no kindliness in the expressionless tone, nor any life in +those dull eyes. "There would be less kindliness if he knew how he bade +Nick Beauvallet welcome," thought Sir Nicholas, as he rose to his feet. + +Philip, sitting so still in his chair, seemed to study him for a +moment. It was tense, that moment, fraught with peril. Sir Nicholas +stood calmly under the scrutiny; they were not to know how ready to be +out was the sword at his side. The moment passed. "You have letters for +us," said the slow voice. + +Beauvallet brought the silken packet out from the breast of his +doublet, came to the table, knelt again, and so offered it. + +The King's hand touched his as he took the packet; the fingers felt +cold and slightly damp. He gave the packet to the secretary, and made a +movement to Beauvallet to rise. "Your first visit to Spain, señor?" + +"My first, sire." + +Philip inclined his head. The secretary had slit the silken wrapper, +and now spread crackling sheets before his master. Philip's eyes +travelled slowly over the first page, but never changed in their +lack-lustre expression. "I see you are cousin to the Duc de Guise, +señor," he remarked, and pushed the sheets away from him on the table's +polished surface. "We will look over these matters, and have an answer +for you in a week or so." Haste was a word not in his Majesty's +vocabulary. He spoke to the secretary. "Vasquez, if Don Diaz de Losa +is in the palace you will send to fetch him." He brought his gaze back +to Beauvallet. "Don Diaz will look to your entertainment, señor. Your +lodging?" + +Beauvallet gave the name of his inn. Philip seemed to consider it. +"Yes, it is best," he said. "You are not here officially." + +"I give out, sire, that I am travelling for my pleasure." + +"That is well," said Philip. "You will contrive to pass the time +pleasantly, I trust. Madrid has much to show." + +"I have promised myself a ride out to see the great Escorial, sire," +said Sir Nicholas, assuming reverential tones. + +Some spark of life entered Philip's eyes, enthusiasm into his dead +voice. He began to talk of his vast palace, nearing its completion, he +said. He talked as one absorbed in his theme, as in a holy matter, and +was still talking when Matteo de Vasquez came back into the room. He +was accompanied by a stately gentleman of middle years, dressed very +magnificently, in contrast to the black-garbed King. + +The brief enthusiasm left Philip. He presented Don Diaz de Losa, and +consigned the Chevalier to his care. In the wake of this nobleman +Beauvallet bowed himself out of the King's cabinet. + +It seemed that Don Diaz was in the King's confidence, for he asked none +but the most trivial questions. He had a grave Castilian courtesy, and +begged that the Chevalier would call on him for any needs he might +have. He escorted him through the corridors to a gallery, where a fair +sprinkling of gentlemen were gathered, and presented him punctiliously +to all who were present. The Chevalier was a gentleman from the +French Court, travelling to enlarge his knowledge of the world. Thus +Beauvallet was sponsored into society. Don Diaz requested his company +at a party at his house that evening, Beauvallet accepted without +hesitation. He stayed some while in the gallery talking to these +grandees of Spain, and presently took his leave. Don Diaz went with him +to the hall, and they parted with great politeness. + +Joshua was anxiously awaiting his master's return, and heaved a large +sigh of relief upon seeing him come in, Sir Nicholas flung himself +into a chair. "God's Death, what a court!" he said. Then he began to +laugh. "What a king! what a graven king! If one had but whispered _El +Beauvallet_ in his ear! Only to see him start!" + +"God forbid!" said Joshua devoutly. "Hey, but this likes me not at +all!" He looked anxiously. "How long do we remain, master?" + +"Who knows? What a tale for Drake! God send I win through to tell it +him!" + +"God send so indeed, sir," said Joshua glumly. + +"Comfort you, knave: in three short weeks the _Venture_ will cruise +off that smuggling port we wot of, and every night she will creep in +towards the coast, and watch for my signal." + +"What use if you be clapped up?" said Joshua rather tartly. + +"I shall win free, don't doubt it. Hearken, my man, a moment! This +plot grows thicker still, and there are pitfalls. If I should fall +into one...." He paused, and sniffed at his pomander, eyes narrowed +and meditative. "Ay. If I be taken, Joshua, remove on the instant from +this place, with all my traps. Go look for an obscure tavern against +our needs. I shall then know where to find you. When you hear of my +death--or if I come not inside ten days--make all speed to that port, +and signal with a lantern after dark, as you know how. That's in case +of need. Trust yet awhile in Beauvallet's luck. Go now, and nose me out +the house of Don Diaz de Losa. I visit there this evening. If you can +get news of Don Manuel de Rada, call me your debtor." + +"A plague on all women!" Joshua said. But he said it on the other side +of the door. + +Don Diaz de Losa's apartments were crowded when Beauvallet arrived that +evening. There was dicing going forward in one room, where a great +many young caballeros were gathered, but the function seemed to have +more the nature of a cold reception. Magnificent gentlemen strolled +from group to group; there were ladies amongst them, not so discreet +as had been the ladies of Spain in a bygone age. Serving men in the +de Losa livery, each one bearing his master's cognizance offered +refreshments on heavy silver trays to the guests. There was wine in +glasses of Venetian ware: Valdepeñas from Morena, red wine of Vinaroz +and Benicarlo; Manzanilla, lightest of sherris-wines from San Lucar. +With these went sweetmeats and fruit: Asturian pomegranates and grapes +from Malaga, but other refreshment there was none. To an English taste +this might seem meagre, to be sure, in the face of so much ostentatious +display. Don Diaz's house had carpets to tread upon, chairs lined +with cut velvet, candelabras of wrought silver, a Toledo clock of rare +design, hangings of silk and tapestry, but it did not seem to be the +Spanish custom to entertain guests with banquets, as would have been +done in kindlier England. + +There was an oppressive grandeur over all, as though each man, were +mindful of his high degree, and the canons of polite behaviour. +No voice was raised light-heartedly; all talk was measured and +punctilious, so that Beauvallet's laugh sounded strangely in this +sedate gathering, and men turned their heads to see whence came the +care-free sound. + +It had been provoked by a gentleman from Andalusia, to whom Don Diaz +had made the Chevalier known. This Southerner had a gaiety lacking in +the grave Castilians, or the proud Aragonese, and had cracked some joke +for the Chevalier's delectation. They stood chatting easily enough, so +easily that Don Juan was moved to congratulate the Chevalier on the +excellence of his Spanish. No doubt the señor had been in Spain before, +or had at least Spanish friends? + +Beauvallet owned to a Spanish friend, and said that this one had +enjoyed the acquaintance of Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva. Had he the name +aright? + +"Ah, the late Governor of Santiago!" Don Juan said, and shook his head. + +The golden pomander was held to the Chevalier's nose. Over it his eyes +were watchful. "I had thought to present myself to him," Beauvallet +said. + +"You have not heard, señor: Don Manuel is dead these three months. A +strange tale!" + +"Dead!" Beauvallet said. "How is that?" + +"The West Indian climate, señor. Treacherous! ah, but treacherous! But +there was more to it: a tale to take one's breath away!" + +"But let me hear it, señor, of your kindness!" + +The Southerner spread out his hands. "Have you in France heard of a +certain English pirate? One named El Beauvallet?" + +"Assuredly!" Sir Nicholas' eyes danced. "Who has not heard of him? The +Scourge of Spain I have heard him called. Am I right?" + +"Very right, señor. Alas! They say the man uses witchcraft." Don Juan +crossed himself, and was swiftly imitated. Sir Nicholas' black lashes +hid the laughter in his down-cast eyes. When he raised them again they +were grave, if you could discount the merriness that must always lurk +at the back of them. Don Juan, absorbed in his tale, did not notice +it. "He sacked and sank the ship that bore Don Manuel home, and--you +will scarce credit it--took Don Manuel and his daughter aboard his own +vessel." + +"So!" Beauvallet raised politely surprised eyebrows. "But wherefor?" + +"Who shall say, señor? A mad whim one would suppose, for one can hardly +credit such a man with chivalrous intent. They say he is mad, who have +had traffic with him. But he had the effrontery, señor, to put into a +port of Spain, and there to set Don Manuel ashore!" + +"You astonish me, señor," said Sir Nicholas. "I suppose he bore off the +daughter to England, this famous freebooter?" + +"One might have expected it, but no. Doña Dominica took no hurt, +though her father died soon after his landing. She is under the +guardianship of her good aunt, Doña Beatrice de Carvalho." + +"Thank you for that information," thought Sir Nicholas, and made a +mental note of the name. Aloud he said: "But this is a wonder that you +recount, señor! To escape unhurt from the clutches of so desperate a +villain as this Beauvallet!" His shoulders shook ever so slightly. + +A gentleman standing close to them turned his head and looked keenly. +He bowed to Don Juan, and again to the Chevalier. "Your pardon, señor, +but you spoke a certain name. Has that freebooter been taken at last?" + +Don Juan made the introduction, but it was Beauvallet who answered. +"Nay, nay, señor! Surely he bears a charmed life? I have heard men say +so." + +"As to that, we shall see, señor," said the newcomer. "You have set +eyes on him, maybe?" + +"I have seen him, yes," Sir Nicholas answered. The long fingers that +swung his pomander gently to and fro never quivered. "In Paris, where +he sometimes visits." + +Don Juan displayed a lively curiosity. "Is it so indeed? And is he as +mad as they say? They tell us, who have had dealings with him, that he +is a man with black hair who laughs." + +White teeth gleamed for a moment. "Yes, he laughs, señor," said Sir +Nicholas. A chuckle came, they little knew how audacious. "I dare swear +if he stood in this room surrounded by his enemies at this moment, he +would still laugh. It is a habit with him." + +"One hardly credits it, señor," the stately gentleman replied. "There +would very soon be an end to his laughter." He bowed slightly, and +passed on. + +Don Diaz came up at that moment, and laid his hand on Beauvallet's arm. +"I have been searching for you, Chevalier. I would present you to a +countryman of yours: your ambassador, M. de Lauvinière." + +Not by the flicker of an eyelash did Beauvallet betray how unwelcome +this courtesy was to him. Danger crouched before him; he went smiling +towards it: Beauvallet's way! + +Don Diaz led him across the room, and spoke in a soft undertone. "It +is judged best, señor, that no secret should be made of your visit to +Madrid. M. de Lauvinière might then suspect. I need not warn you to be +on your guard with him. There he stands, near the door." + +The Frenchman was a man with grey hair and a hook nose. His eyes were +deep-set, and he looked piercingly. Upon Don Diaz's presentation of the +Chevalier he bowed, and looked with a keenness that probed deep. "A +cousin of the Duc de Guise?" he said. "I do not think...." He frowned a +little, and his eyes never wavered from Beauvallet's face. "But I claim +the very slightest acquaintance with the Guises." + +Therein lay a certain safeguard, thought Beauvallet. It was not to +be expected that a member of the Court party would be on terms of +friendship with the great Guise family. + +"I am a distant cousin of the Duc's, monsieur," said Sir Nicholas. + +"So?" De Lauvinière looked still more searchingly. "Of what branch of +the family, monsieur, if one may ask?" + +It would not do to hesitate. "Of the junior branch, monsieur. The Duc +is my cousin in the second degree." + +"I have heard of you, monsieur," the ambassador said. "I had thought +you a younger man. Do you make a long stay in Madrid?" + +"Why no, monsieur, I believe not. I have a desire to visit Sevilla and +Toledo." + +"Ah yes, you should certainly journey south," nodded de Lauvinière. + +A lady came up on the arm of her husband to claim his attention. +Beauvallet drew back thankfully. Had he been vouchsafed a glimpse of a +postscript added to de Lauvinière's letter home, and despatched upon +the morrow, it might have shaken his nerve. + +"_I should be glad_," wrote his excellency, "_if you would discover +what age man is the Chevalier Claude de Guise, cousin to the present +Duc. Let me have what news you can hear of him, in especial of what +like he is, of what height, and of what lineaments. Your assured +friend, Henri de Lauvinière._" + + + + + CHAPTER X + + +In bed next morning Sir Nicholas sipped a cup of chocolate and gave +ear to his servant. Joshua had the news he wanted, and imparted it +after his own fashion as he laid out his master's dress. A bottle of +wine with the landlord of the Rising Sun had loosened a tongue that +dealt much in gossip. Who so clever as Joshua Dimmock at finding out +information? Let Sir Nicholas be at ease: the lady was found. + +"In the guardianship of her aunt. I know," Sir Nicholas said. + +Joshua was put out. "Ay, so it is, and Don Manuel dead these three +months. The lady inherits all--all!" + +"That does not concern us," said Beauvallet. "She cannot carry her +lands to England." + +"True, master, very true. But here is somewhat you may not have heard. +Her espousals are talked of." + +Sir Nicholas yawned. "They will be more talked of yet," said he. + +"Master, the tale runs that she will wed her cousin, one Diego de +Carvalho." + +"So-so!" said Beauvallet. "Early days to talk of betrothals yet. +Cousin, eh? That means a dispensation, or I'm much at fault." + +"You mistake me, sir: nothing is yet done. These are rumours." He +laid a finger against his nose. "This gives to think, master. I learn +that the Carvalhos are as poor as may be. Nothing to gape at there, +you say. True; there seem few enough nobles here with coins to rub +together. Curious, curious! And yet so much pomp! We do not use that +way in England. Under my breath I say it; have no fear of me. Perpend +then, master. What if this aunt--her name is Beatrice, for your better +information--hath made a little plot to possess herself of all this +wealth?" + +"Very possible," nodded Sir Nicholas. "And a bribe to the Church to +hasten the dispensation." + +"Certain, I think, master. These priests! If what one hears be true!" + +"What do you learn of Don Diego?" demanded Sir Nicholas. + +"Little to the point, sir. A creature of no weight, as it seems to me. +These Spanish caballeros! Foh, match me a young Englishman, say I! +Well, he is prodigal: all young men are so. It's to say nothing. He +does what all springalds do in ruffling it about the town. For the rest +I learn that he is accounted well-looking, rides comely, knows how to +handle a bilbo, hath elegant accomplishments by the score. You nose +out a fop. I do not gainsay it, for so it appears to me. He need not +concern us." + +"He might concern us very nearly," said Sir Nicholas. "What else? Is +the father of this fine sprig alive?" + +"Surely, master, but here again I would say, a creature of no account. +As I read our host's talk--in his cups he waxes a thought garrulous. +Strange sight in one so prim!--he lies beneath his good lady's thumb." +He made a descriptive gesture. "So! By all I can understand that is a +lady of odd manners, sir. You would say an original. We shall doubtless +know more anon. They have estates somewhere to the north of Burgos, as +I apprehend, but at this present, sir, they stay, all four, at their +house in Madrid. This I have found, off the Plaza de Oriente. While +you slept, master, I have been about the town a little. Some fine +buildings, to be sure, and a quantity of Popish Churches--enough to +turn a man's stomach. The house of the Carvalho you may find easily. +There is a wall grown with a vine at the back, and, as I judge, a +garden upon the inner side." He rolled a knowing eye. "Thought I, we +may find a use for that. Further, master, there is to be a ball given +this day week at that house, in honour of our Diego's birthday. This is +much talked of, for it seems these Spaniards do not give them often. +All the world will be there." + +"Then so must I," said Beauvallet, and sprang out of bed. "Now how to +make the acquaintance of the Carvalhos?" + +"Walk on the Mentidero, master," Joshua advised. "It is still the +haunt of your Court gallant, as I hear. You might compare it with Duke +Humphrey's Walk at home--to its disadvantage, mark you!" + +"A happy thought," said Beauvallet, pulling on his netherstocks. "I +might perchance come up with my friend of last night." + +The Mentidero was a raised walk along the wall of the Church of San +Felipe el Real, which stood at the entrance to the Calle Mayor. Here +came the wits of the day, and the courtiers, to exchange gossip, to +talk the latest scandal, to exhibit a new fashion in cloaks, or a new +way of tying a garter. Under it were a score of little booths, where +one might buy such trifles as a pair of embroidered gloves for a lady, +a love-knot, or an ouch of wrought silver. Across the Calle Mayor lay +the Oñate Palace, with the rough side-walk beneath where painters +showed their pictures to attract the Court. The market lay in the +centre of the Calle; there were water-carriers gathered there, and the +scene was busy and noisy. Round about were shops, and here and there a +coffee-house, where one might meet one's cronies. + +The gentleman from Andalusia was found upon the Mentidero, and +professed himself charmed to meet the Chevalier again. Sir Nicholas +joined him in his strolling up and down, and came at length to his +business with him. In default of Don Manuel, whom he had hoped to +meet, he would desire to present himself to Don Manuel's worthy +brother-in-law. Yet he was uncertain how this project might be +effected, since he could claim no acquaintance with the Carvalhos. + +The matter was very easily arranged. Don Juan de Aranda would himself +present the Chevalier any time he should choose. He might meet Don +Diego de Carvalho this very morning, if he wished, since Don Diego was +abroad, after his usual custom, upon the Mentidero. They had passed him +a while back, talking to de Lara and young Vasquez. + +They turned, therefore, and began to walk slowly back the way they had +come. + +"I understand Don Diego to be a very proper caballero," Beauvallet +remarked. "The only offspring, I believe?" + +"True, señor." Don Juan was a little reticent, and it struck Beauvallet +that he had no great admiration for Don Diego. Presently he nodded, and +spoke again. "There is Don Diego, señor: the smaller of the two." + +A slight young gentleman was lounging gracefully ahead of them, +exchanging languid conversation with another, just as elegant. Don +Diego was very dark, with black brows, almost meeting over the bridge +of his nose, and full, curved lips. He wore a jewel in the lobe of his +left ear, was very generously scented with musk, and twirled a rose +between one very white finger and thumb. A flat velvet hat with a plume +in it was set on his curled head at an angle; his ruff was large and +edged with lace, and his short cloak was lined with carnation silk. + +Sir Nicholas looked, and said afterwards that he had an instant itching +in his toe. Be that as it may, he went forward very pleasantly, and +upon Don Juan's introduction, made his best bow. + +The bow was returned. As Don Diego straightened his back he found a +pair of very bright blue eyes looking into his. The two men seemed +to measure each other; it is probable that each conceived an instant +dislike for the other, but each hid the uncharitable emotion. + +"The Chevalier is travelling amongst us for his pleasure," said Don +Juan. "We are all resolved to show him the true Spanish hospitality +that he may carry a good tale of us home with him to Paris." + +Don Diego smiled politely. "I hope so, señor. But the Chevalier comes +at a bad season; the amusements draw to a close, and we all think of +the country, just so soon as the Court moves to Valladolid." He looked +at Beauvallet. "A pity you did not come a month ago, señor. There was +a bull-fight might have interested you: I believe you do not have them +in France. And an _auto da fé_ as well. There was a great press of +people," he said pensively. "One turned faint at the heat and the smell +of the common people." + +"Did you indeed?" said Beauvallet sarcastically. For the life of him +he could not control that disdainful curl of the lip. "What I have +missed!" + +"Yes, I fear we shall see no more such sights yet awhile," said Don +Diego regretfully. His wandering gaze came back to Beauvallet. "I +regret I was not at de Losa's house last night, where I was told I +might have had the felicity of meeting you." He bowed again. + +"My loss, señor," said Sir Nicholas. "I looked for Don Manuel de Rada, +known to me through hearsay, and--alas!--heard the sad news of his +death." + +"Alas indeed," Don Diego answered. But it did not seem to Beauvallet +that this sentiment came from the heart. + +"I shall do myself the honour of waiting upon your father, señor," said +Beauvallet. + +"My father will count himself honoured, señor. Do you stay long in +Madrid?" + +"Some few weeks, perhaps. No more, I believe. But I detain you." He +stepped back, doffed his cap again, and bowed. "I shall hope to see +more of you, señor." + +"The pleasure will be mine, señor," returned Don Diego. + +On that they parted. Later in the day Sir Nicholas sought out his +sponsor, Don Diaz de Losa, and had no difficulty in getting from him a +letter of introduction to Don Rodriguez de Carvalho. + +"All goes merrily," he said to himself, as he walked back to the Rising +Sun. "Enough for one day, I think. Patience, Nick!" + +Upon the morrow he made his way to the Casa Carvalho, and was fortunate +enough to find Don Rodriguez at home. If he had hoped to see Dominica +he was disappointed. No glimpse of her could be obtained, though he +sharply scrutinised the windows that gave on to the _patio_ as he +crossed it behind the lackey. + +He was ushered into a dusky library that looked out on to the walled +garden Joshua had discovered. Volumes in tooled leather lined the room; +there were several chairs of walnut, tortuously carved, a Catalan +chest, with flat pilasters upon its front and sides, and an escabeau +over against the window. + +Don Rodriguez came in presently with de Losa's letter open in his +hand. He was a lean man of middle age, with eyes rather too close-set +to be trusted, Beauvallet thought. They shifted here and there, never +resting for long on any one object. His mouth bore some resemblance to +his son's, but there was weakness in the lines about it, and a kind of +petulant uncertainty in the slightly pouting underlip. + +He received the Chevalier kindly, and said a great deal that was proper +on the sad subject of his brother-in-law's death. His sighs were gusty, +he shook his head, cast down his eyes to the floor, and meandered on in +his talk of the exigencies of the West Indian climate. + +Beauvallet was becoming impatient of this tedious exchange of +futilities when they were interrupted by a sound on the gravel walk +outside. The long window was darkened, and there was the gentle hush of +a lady's skirts. + +Sir Nicholas turned quickly, but the lady who stood looking in was not +Dominica. She was a large woman, built on flowing lines, and dressed +very richly in an embroidered gown of purple mochado. Her hair was +extravagantly coiffed, her farthingale brushed the window-frame on +either side as she came through, and her ruff stood up high behind her +head. She was certainly handsome, and must have been lovely before +increasing years made her stout. Her mouth was faintly smiling, and her +eyes, almond-shaped under weary eyelids, smiled too. The hinted smile +betokened a sort of compassionate amusement, as though the lady looked +cynically upon her world, and found it foolish. She moved as one who +would never hurry, and in spite of her ungainly farthingale she walked +with a certain lazy grace. + +"Ah, Chevalier! My wife--Doña Beatrice," Don Rodriguez said. He +addressed the lady with a hint of fluster in his voice as though he +stood in lively awe of her. "My love, permit me to present to you a +noble stranger to Madrid--M. le Chevalier de Guise." + +The disillusioned eyes ran over Sir Nicholas; the smile seemed to +deepen. Doña Beatrice held out a passive hand, and appeared to approve +Beauvallet as he bent over it. Her voice was as languid as her +carriage. "A Frenchman," she remarked. "I had ever a kindness for a +Frenchman. Now, what do you make here, Chevalier?" + +"Nothing but my pleasure, señora." + +It seemed an effort to her to raise her brows. "Do you find pleasure in +Madrid?" she inquired. She went to a chair and sank into it, and began +slowly to fan herself. "I find it unbearably fatiguing." + +"Why, señora, I find much pleasure here," Beauvallet answered. + +"You are young," she said, in extenuation. "And French. So much vigour! +So much enthusiasm!" + +"Plenty of food for enthusiasm in Madrid, madam," said Sir Nicholas +politely. + +"Ah! But when you attain to my years, señor, you will realize that +there is nothing in the world to feed enthusiasm." + +"I shall hope to preserve my illusions, madame." + +"It is far better to have none," drawled the lady. + +Don Rodriguez, hovering solicitously about his spouse, smiled +deprecatingly. He found himself in constant need to temper her oddities +by this fidgetty, excusing smile. + +"Let us talk in your own tongue, Chevalier. I speak it very +indifferently, but it is a polite language." She spoke it very well. + +"My love, the Chevalier had hoped to find your poor brother. We have +been speaking of his sad death." + +She answered without taking the trouble to look at him. "Why sad, +señor? One must hope he has found repose. So you were acquainted with +my brother, Chevalier?" + +"No madame, but I knew a friend of his once, and I had hoped to present +myself to his notice upon that score." + +"You would not have found him at all entertaining," said Doña Beatrice. +"It is far better to know me." + +Sir Nicholas bowed. "I am sure of it, madame," he said, and was +inclined to think he spoke sooth. + +"I must have you come to my ball on Friday evening," she announced. "It +will be very painstaking and very dull. You shall solace my boredom. I +suppose you must meet my son." She sighed and addressed Don Rodriguez. +"Señor, Don Diego is somewhere at hand. Pray send for him." + +"I have already had that pleasure, madame. I met your son upon the +Mentidero yesterday." + +"Ah, then you will not want to see him again," she said, as though she +perfectly understood. "You need not send, señor." + +Sir Nicholas bit his lip. "On the contrary, I shall be charmed, madame." + +Her eyelids lifted for a moment. He thought he had never seen eyes so +curiously cold, so cynical, yet so good-humoured. "Señor, send for Don +Diego," she sighed. + +In a minute or two Don Diego came in, and with him the scent of musk. +He was very punctilious in his manner towards Sir Nicholas, and while +the two men spoke together his mother lay back in her chair watching +them with her omniscient smile. + +"You will see the Chevalier at your ball, my son," she said. "My dear +Chevalier, how remiss I am! I did not tell you that it is in my son's +honour. His anniversary. I forget which, but no doubt he will tell you." + +"It can be of no interest to the Chevalier, señora," said Don Diego, +annoyed. + +"I shall hope to have the felicity of meeting your niece, madame," said +Beauvallet. "Or perhaps she does not go into public yet?" + +Don Diego looked cross; Doña Beatrice continued to fan herself. "She +will be present," she said placidly. + +It struck Beauvallet that both father and son looked sharply at her, +but she gave no sign. He rose to take his leave, kissed her hand, and +was ushered forth. + +When the door had closed behind him Don Diego gave a pettish shrug of +the shoulder, and flung over to the window. "Why must you invite him +for Friday?" he asked. "Are you so enamoured of him? He walks abroad +as though he had bought Madrid." + +"I thought he might amuse me," his mother replied. "A very personable +man. It is most entertaining to see you at such a disadvantage, my son." + +Don Rodriguez expostulated at this. "My love, how can you say so? Diego +is a proper caballero--the properest in Madrid, I dare swear. His air, +his carriage----" + +"Very exquisite, señor. I have never seen him otherwise, and I fear I +never shall." + +"I do not profess to understand what you would be at, señora," said Don +Diego, with a half-laugh. + +She got up out of her chair. "How should you? You should live in a +painting, Diego; a painting of soft lines and graceful attitudes. +I doubt the Chevalier would never stay still in it." She went out, +chuckling to herself. + +Father and son looked at each other. "Your mother has a--has an odd +twist in her humour," said Don Rodriguez weakly. + +"My mother, señor," said Don Diego tartly, "likes to be thought +enigmatic. She said that Dominica would be present, but will she?" He +opened the little comfit box that he carried, and put a sweetmeat into +his mouth. "If she consents it will be for the first time." + +"Leave her to your mother. She--she is a very remarkable woman, Diego." + +"Likewise is my cousin a very remarkable self-willed chit," said Don +Diego. He licked his fingers and shut up the box. "She is as cold as +ice," he said impatiently. "Bewitched. A scornful piece that wants +schooling." + +"Bethink you, it is very soon after Don Manuel's death for her to be +thinking of bridals," Don Rodriguez said excusingly. "You would maybe +do well to deal gently." + +"Do I not deal gently?" The sneer was clearly marked now. "And while I +stay supplicating she but grows the colder, and every caballero in the +town is eager to hazard his luck. She is like to be off with another if +this continues. Or her uncle de Tobar will take a hand in the game, and +try to get her for that overgrown fool, Miguel. Oh yes, she hinted she +might write to him! A vixen!" + +Don Rodriguez murmured a vague expostulation. "I don't think it, I +don't think it. She has no mind to wed yet, and your mother hath an eye +to her. Belike you do not go well to work with her." + +"I will use her more hardly if this coldness endures," said Don Diego. +His eyes glinted, and Don Rodriguez looked away. + +"Leave it to your mother," he advised feebly. "It is early yet to +despair." + +There was some excuse for Don Diego's ill-humour. He had a very pretty +cousin, heiress to great wealth, marked clearly by heaven to be a +bride for him, and the devil was in it that the girl must needs flout +him. Such a thing had never happened to him before. He was at first +incredulous, then sullen. + +As for Dominica, there was a good reason for her refusal to fall in +with the wishes of her family, had they but known it. How should a maid +think of Diego who had lain trembling in Beauvallet's arms? + +Since those mad days at sea much had happened in her life. She found +herself bewildered, undaunted, certainly, but wary. Her father came +home only to die, and he left her in the ward of his sister Beatrice. +She discovered that she was wealthy, mistress of large estates in the +south: a rare matrimonial prize, in effect. She was gathered under her +aunt's ample wing, and knew not what to make of that lady. + +There was no gainsaying Doña Beatrice's kindness, but there was more to +her than mere indolent good humour. Dominica had not been long under +her roof before she discovered that her uncle, even her cousin too, +were puppets, whose strings were pulled by Doña Beatrice. She suspected +that she also was to be a puppet, and lifted her chin at the thought. +Doña Dominica, accustomed for many years to be mistress, did not take +kindly to a subordinate position, nor could she stomach the strict +rule under which well-born maidens lived in Spain. She let it be seen +that she had a will of her own, and tossed up her head to face wrath. +None came; no one had ever seen Doña Beatrice put out. She blinked her +sleepy eyelids, and continued to smile. "Charming, my dear, charming! +It suits you admirably," she said. + +Nonplussed, Dominica stammered: "What suits me, aunt?" + +Doña Beatrice made a little gesture with her fan. "This display of +spirit, my dear. But it is wasted, quite wasted. Show my poor son these +flashing looks: I am much too old to be moved, and far too lazy." + +Dominica, aware even then of the family's designs, chose to come into +the open. "Señora, if you mean me for my cousin's bride, I think it +only fair to tell you that I will have none of him, so please you." + +"Of course I mean you for his bride," her aunt said calmly. "My dear, +pray sit down. You fatigue me sadly." + +"I had guessed it!" Dominica said indignantly. + +"It was not very difficult to guess," said Doña Beatrice. "But we shall +not talk of bridals yet. Decency must be observed. I have often thought +how absurd is this to do we make over death, but it is the way of the +world, and I never go against custom." + +"Señora--I do not like my cousin enough!" + +Doña Beatrice was not at all disturbed. "No, my love, I had not +supposed you did. I find him very lamentable myself, and I bore him. +But what has that to do with marriage? Do not make that singular error +of confusing liking with marriage. It has nothing to do with it." + +"I choose to think it has, aunt. I could not marry where I did not +love." + +Her aunt yawned behind her fan; she looked amused, tolerant. "Be +advised by me, my dear, and be rid of such notions. Marry for +convenience and love at discretion. I assure you, these things smoothe +themselves when one is married. As a maid you are bound to be prim. It +is all very different when you are comfortably established." + +Dominica stared, and could not forbear a giggle. "Do you advise me to +wed my cousin, señora, for the sake of taking a lover afterwards?" she +asked, half-shocked, half-entertained. + +"Certainly, child, if you wish. Only pray use discretion. Scandal is +very odious, and there is never the least need to incur it if you +observe care in these little affairs. You have only to look at me." + +Dominica did look at her, almost aghast. "Aunt!" + +"What is it now?" inquired Doña Beatrice, lifting her eyes for a +moment. "You did not suppose that I married your uncle for love, did +you?" + +Dominica felt herself to be young and foolish, at a disadvantage. "I +did not know, señora, but for myself I do not mean to wed my cousin. He +is--he is--in short, señora, I do not care for him." + +Her aunt only looked at her with the tolerant amusement she found so +galling, and would say no more. + +But the matter was not to be so easily allowed to slide. Don Diego's +attentions became more marked; he was impervious to rebuffs, just as +his mother was impervious to argument. Dominica felt Beauvallet's +signet ring lying snug in her bosom, and turned a shoulder on Don +Diego's advances. + +She would look at the ring sometimes when she was alone and remember +how it had been given to her, and what words had gone with it. She had +been induced to believe then, under the influence of that dominant +personality. Even now when she conjured up Beauvallet's image before +her mind's eye, and saw again his laughing face, and the turn of his +dark head, a little of that belief would come stealing back to her. It +could not long endure. There, upon the high seas, anything had seemed +possible; here in grave Spain it was as though that swift romance had +only existed in her imagination. She had only a ring to remind her of +its reality; if her heart still cherished its secret hope, her brain +rejected it, and knew Beauvallet's coming to be an impossibility. + +Perhaps he had forgotten; perhaps he was even now teasing some English +lady in the way he had used to her. Yet he had said: "I shall not +forget," and he had not been jesting then. + +She wondered what her aunt would say if she knew but the half of it. +Anyone else, Dominica thought, would be horrified, but she could not +imagine Doña Beatrice roused to so strenuous an emotion. Probably she +would laugh at the romance; she who had had lovers enough in her day +might even sympathise with her niece, but it was very certain that she +would not see in the brief idyll a bar to marriage with Diego. + +Dominica had been careful from the outset to hide that piece of the +past from her aunt. She showed an admirable indifference to Beauvallet, +knowing that such an attitude would be the least suspicious. She said +that she thought his powers overrated: he was nothing beyond the +ordinary, to be sure. It was not caution made her so reticent, for she +could not think that she would ever see Sir Nicholas again, but she had +a dread of letting her aunt into her confidence. Doña Beatrice was like +a snail, she thought, trailing a sticky poison in her wake. What she +touched she soiled; all virtue was made to seem a little foolish; all +vice was merely smiled upon. + +She shocked her niece from the first, most of all upon the question of +religion. When it appeared that Dominica went too seldom to Mass Doña +Beatrice spoke of the omission, and told the girl that it would be wise +to attend regularly. + +Dominica, hardly knowing how she dared, perhaps stung by the placid +tone her aunt assumed, hinted at reformed notions. She was startled by +Doña Beatrice's attitude, startled, and certainly shocked. + +"I dare say, my dear," had said Doña Beatrice. "But it is most foolish +to brandish such ideas abroad. You may be as heretical as you please to +yourself, but pray do not let Frey Pedro get wind of it. Talk such as +this leads to an unpleasant sequel. Respect the forms of religion, I do +beseech you." + +This, from a seemingly devout Catholic! Dominica had expected censure, +had steeled herself to meet denunciation. But a calm recommendation +to her to play the hypocrite seemed to her depraved beyond words. She +looked indignantly at Doña Beatrice, but ended in obeying her. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + +When she first heard of the projected ball to be given in honour of Don +Diego's birthday Dominica pleaded her mourning state, and said that +she could not be present. She had a suspicion that this ball, surely +unsuitable for a man's anniversary, was planned to lure her from her +fastness. Maybe it was to serve as a prologue to her betrothal. She +would not be present. + +This decision drew a sigh from Doña Beatrice. "My dear, you are very +teasing," she complained. "In Spain girls do not say I will, and I will +not to those set in authority over them. Do me the favour to give way +with a good grace." + +"You cannot think it seemly, señora, for me to be dancing so soon after +my father's death." + +"I do not think it at all seemly for you to stay moping in your +chamber," replied Doña Beatrice. "We will set all in train to have a +new gown made for you. There is naught so enlivening to the spirits as +a new gown, believe me. But I do not think you should wear colours yet. +A cut velvet might do very well." + +"I do not mean to be present," repeated Dominica. + +"Or a pure white taffeta," mused Doña Beatrice. "We must consider it." + +"Aunt!" + +"Well, child? Oh, are you still tilting your chin at me? I take it very +unkindly in you then. Oblige me by being present on this one occasion, +and let us say no more about it." + +"I am sorry that you think me unreasonable, señora," Dominica said +stiffly. "But if I obey you in this, you will expect me to obey you +in--other things." + +"Marriage," nodded her aunt. "It makes no odds, my dear. Whether you +come to the ball or not I am still desirous to see you wed. You cannot +suppose that the care of a niece is at all pleasing to one of my +indolence." + +"Show me, then, another suitor!" flashed Dominica. + +Doña Beatrice picked up her fan. "Now I had thought you cleverer than +that," she said. "How should we benefit by another suitor for you?" + +The brown eyes looked sternly. "In a word, aunt, you covet my +possessions. And so we have the truth at last!" + +"Naturally, child. What did you suppose?" said Doña Beatrice, +unruffled. "We find ourselves in deplorably straitened circumstances, +and you come as a gift from heaven, one would say." + +Dominica looked round at the opulence of the room. "One does not +immediately perceive your poverty, señora." + +"Certainly not," said Doña Beatrice. "We all maintain a good +appearance. But show me the man who is not impoverished to-day for all +his outward pomp!" + +"I think," said Dominica forcibly, "that Spain is a hateful country, +and the people--corrupt!" + +"Very corrupt," agreed Doña Beatrice. "An age of loose-living. I +remember when I was a girl a Spanish lady was the model of decorum. It +is all very different now, and much more amusing. I believe that we +become a byword." + +"I wonder, señora, that you are content to be so!" + +"To be a byword? What odds? As for our corruption, what would you, +when the King keeps his grandees away from the affairs of state, and +encourages them to waste their substance?" She shrugged. "I observe, +and I am content to smile." + +"So it seems," said Dominica. "Yet you can leave smiling to lend +yourself to an odious scheme to marry me to my cousin. Well, I will not +wed him. Never! You will see, señora, that I mean what I say." + +"I don't doubt it, my dear. You are a very charming girl, and you have +wit--a little. But when you put your wit against mine you must lose." + +"When you find, señora, that my wits have won the day----" + +Her aunt rose. "I shall have a lively respect for you, my dear. Cut +velvet and your pearls. I will see to it." + +Well, in the end Dominica gave way, and not quite from a sense of +duty. Her aunt's attitude had given her pause; that placid, smiling +dame frightened her: there was no gainsaying it. She guessed that +she was required to appear in public to give the lie to a world that +might possibly be saying that the Carvalhos kept her cooped up against +her will. There was her uncle on the mother's side, one Miguel de +Tobar, who had two likely sons of his own, and might conceivably have +designs upon her himself. One suitor was as distasteful as the other, +but it might serve to play off Tobar against the Carvalhos, Dominica +thought. She began to scheme and ponder, weaving her toils. She was +afraid of Doña Beatrice, ay, but she would fight her for all that, and +find joy in it. She put a finger to her lips, bit the rosy tip, and +looked this way and that, frowning at fate. Policy dictated an end +to her seclusion. She must go out into the world, and nose about for +a deliverer. Tobar would serve to alarm the Carvalhos; she had very +little intention of carrying it further than that. She had had letters +from him, guarded enough, to be sure, but sufficiently plain in their +purport to tell her that she might call on him and find a ready answer. + +An end to this moping, then. She got up briskly, with a little toss of +the head, as though she would be free of a curbing rein. She would go +to this ball, but dance she would not. She would wear what was put out +for her to wear, and show herself a martyr to tyranny. + +But velvets and love-knots, pearl-sewn lace, and the fashioning of a +corsage must necessarily interest a young lady, and when tailors were +busy she abandoned the attitude of martyr and asserted herself. She +would have the neck cut so, and the kirtle of such a silk, and there +should be crystals sewn on her ruff. She harried the tailors, and sent +her maid--not Maria, now, who had left her to marry a hopeful young +groom, but an older woman, sour-faced and silent--bustling to find a +certain point-lace that was laid by. + +When the day came she was secretly glad that she was to be at the ball. +A maid cannot weep for ever, and to say truth, she was heartily sick of +her seclusion. The new gown pleased her; her pearls looked remarkably +well about her slim neck, and her hair under its silver net was dressed +to her satisfaction. It was a pity her cheeks were so pale, but she +would have none of her aunt's rouge-paste. Let the whispering world see +her pale and wan, and draw what conclusions it liked. Nor would she by +any means carry a very pretty fan of pink feathers, sent to her with +her cousin's compliments. + +"This trifle," says my lady, mighty haughty, "this fan, which pleases +me not at all, you may have, if you like, Carmelita. I do not want it." + +"Señorita, it is the fan Don Diego gave you," old Carmelita reminded +her. + +"Is it so?" Dominica held it up and turned it this way and that. "I do +not like it. Take it if you will, or give it to your niece." She tossed +it aside, and would have no more to do with it. + +She went downstairs presently, a snow-maiden, trying to look sadly +martyred. She found her aunt in the great hall, with Don Rodriguez at +her side. + +He was ready to take Dominica's hand and fondle it. He could never be +at ease in her presence. Her large eyes looked too straightly, nor +would she ever give him any help. She thought him a poor creature, and +despised him accordingly. If he were to play the villain, then a' God's +name let him play it boldly, and put a brave face on to it! A villain +who was yet a man would not infuriate her near so much as this man who +was a villain against his kinder nature. + +He complimented her now, and said that he was glad indeed to see her +amongst them, and looking so beautiful. + +Doña Beatrice, almost overpowering in apple-green silk, with pink +embroideries, and an ornate headdress, looked her over critically. +"Yes, you are very well," she said. "We shall have serenades beneath +your window, I suppose." + +One could not be proof against such flattery. Dominica dropped a +demure curtsy, and said she was glad she pleased her good aunt. + +There came an interruption to drive the dawning smile out of her eyes. +Don Diego came into the hall from the ballroom, and bowed with great +flourish. + +Dominica looked at him with warm indignation in her face. Whether of +intent or not, and she was very sure that it was of intent, he had +chosen to array himself in white to match her. He wore pearl-coloured +Venetian hose, embroidered cunningly with pale pink and a paned doublet +to go with them. His points had silver aiglets; his ruff was stitched +with silver, and was so large that it looked like a dish through which +he had stuck his head. He had a rapier with a jewelled hilt at his +side, a single ruby drop in one ear, and he carried a pure white rose +in his hand. + +Dominica looked him up and down, and gave the tiniest of sniffs. Her +aunt's soft laugh sounded behind her. "What a pretty caballero!" said +Doña Beatrice. "Where, oh where could one find a prettier?" + +Don Diego chose to ignore this tribute. He came up to Dominica with +the smile she so much disliked, and kissed her hand. "Fairest cousin! +I salute you! In my honour, this ball? Nay, rather in yours, the +loveliest lady in Spain." He released her hand, and held out his rose. +"A white rose to match you, sweet cousin." + +"I should be loth to deprive you of it, cousin." + +He came closer. "Only give it me again when the ball is ended. I shall +wear it next my heart then. Let me pin it on your bosom. Roses should +bloom together." + +She drew her skirts away. "Keep your rose, cousin. You tease me to no +purpose." + +He lowered his voice. "Still so cruel? Still so cold? You who set +hearts flaming!" + +"God send a shower to quench them," she said, and moved away to her +aunt's side. + +She stayed there for a long hour while guests arrived and were +announced. All were strangers to her; she had to be presented again +and again. To her annoyance Don Diego stood upon her other side. It +must look as though they were betrothed already, she thought, and was +careful never to turn in his direction. + +The hall became crowded; already they were dancing in the ballroom +beyond. Dominica's foot tapped the floor involuntarily. Diego saw it, +and came possessively close. "Dare I hope for the honour of leading you +out, sweet cousin?" he murmured. + +"I hope you dare not," she answered smartly. "I do not dance to-night." +She made a movement as though to bid him stand further off. "Pray go +and lead out some other lady," she said. + +Above the sound of the rebecks, above the subdued chatter of guests +gathered in the hall, sounded the steward's voice. There was a stir at +the door. "M. le Chevalier de Guise!" called the steward, and bowed in +this late arrival. + +Dominica looked towards the door, wondering who the Frenchman might be. +A knot of gentlemen gathered there parted to let the newcomer pass. +There was a quick, decided step; no Frenchman came in, but Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet, as though upon his own quarterdeck. + +Dominica almost let fall her fan; the breath caught in her throat; she +stood staring, first pale, and then red, and through the mad riot in +her brain ran only the one clear thought: He has come! He has come! He +has come! + +Across the hall he came, with that graceful, careless step she knew so +well. He was brave in silk and velvet, with a neat, small ruff such +as he had always worn clipping his throat about. He had a hand laid +lightly on his sword-hilt, and his eyes looked straight at Dominica. +She saw them fearless, with a kind of mocking challenge in their blue +depths, as though they would signify "Well, did I not say that I would +come?" Everything in her responded to the daring of him. Ah, what a +man! Ah, what a lover for a girl! what a brave, laughing lover! + +He was close now, bowing to her aunt. + +"Ah, so you have come, Chevalier," said Doña Beatrice, giving him her +hand. "We shall talk a little, but later on. Let me present you to +my niece, Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva. This gentleman, my dear, is +a Frenchman strayed by some good chance into Spain. The Chevalier de +Guise." + +Dominica, still hardly daring to trust her eyes, saw his hand held out, +and knew his gaze to be upon her. She put out her own little hand, and +his long fingers closed over it. She looked down at his black head +as he bent to kiss her hand; she thought if she spoke her voice must +betray her agitation. + +It was a real kiss pressed on her hand, no formal brush of the lips. +He stood straight again, and released her slight fingers. "Señorita, I +am enchanted," he said. "But Doña Beatrice is wrong: I did not come by +chance into Spain. I had a set resolve to journey here." + +Her long lashes fluttered downwards. She knew herself to be blushing. +"Indeed, señor?" she said faintly. + +"Such an odd resolve!" commented Doña Beatrice. "What can you hope to +find here to amuse you?" + +Dominica looked up to see his eyes crinkle at the corners. He addressed +himself to Doña Beatrice, laughingly. "Oh, I come on a quest, dear +señora," he said. Then he seemed to become aware of Don Diego, upon +Dominica's other hand. "Well-met, señor! I give you joy of your +anniversary." The mockery in his eyes deepened. "But you are bridal, +señor! bridal!" + +Don Diego stiffened, but a moment after shrugged slightly at this +deplorable lack of formality. "My attire does not like you, Chevalier?" +he said disdainfully. + +"On the contrary," said Sir Nicholas gaily, "it reminds me of my own +nuptials, which draw close." + +Dominica's hand, slowly waving her fan to and fro, faltered a little. +What a game to play with fire! Oh, he was mad indeed, divinely mad! + +"I felicitate you," said Don Diego. "Permit me to find you a partner +for the _coranto_." + +Sir Nicholas turned. "I shall crave the hand of Doña Dominica," he said. + +Don Diego spoke before she could reply. "My cousin does not dance, +señor." + +"How foolish!" said Doña Beatrice, turning her head. "Let the Chevalier +lead you out, my dear. There are no men to rival Frenchmen at dancing." + +"If you will dance, cousin, let mine be the honour of leading you out," +said Don Diego. + +Sir Nicholas had taken her hand; the pressure of his fingers was +insistent. "Ah, but I was before you, Don Diego," he said. + +Don Diego looked angrily, and took a quick step forward, as though he +would snatch Dominica's hand from its resting-place. His rose dropped +unheeded to the ground. "Cousin, I understood you would not dance!" + +"You have let fall your pretty flower," Sir Nicholas pointed out gently. + +Don Diego turned with an ugly look in his face, forgetting his duty to +a guest. His angry stare met an amused glance from cool blue eyes that +did not waver. Sir Nicholas still held Dominica's hand, but one eyebrow +was quizzically raised, as though to say: "Do you wish to quarrel? Say +but the word!" + +Doña Beatrice interposed to put an end to an awkward moment. Her fan +brushed Dominica's shoulder. "Be advised by me, my dear, and go with +the Chevalier. Resolutions are made to be broken only." + +Don Diego seemed to recollect himself. He recovered his _sosiego_ and +bowed. "I am less fortunate than the Chevalier, cousin. I shall ask for +your hand later in the evening." + +"As you please, cousin." Dominica sent a fleeting glance upwards to +Beauvallet's face, and dropped her eyes again. Obedient to the pull on +her hand she went with him across the hall to the ballroom. + +"God pity me, I have borne a fool!" sighed Doña Beatrice. "You do not +go well to work, my poor son." + +"She did it to flout me!" he said hotly. + +"If she did it promises very well," she replied. "But when a man like +the Chevalier craves a boon there are few women will not grant it. For +where he craves he might take, look you." + +"He is insufferable!" Diego said. "My sword itches to taste his blood." + +Doña Beatrice smiled more broadly. "I dare say the Chevalier has some +skill with swords," she said. "I do not think--no, I do not think that +you would be well advised to send him a challenge." + +Don Diego stayed glooming a moment. "One would think you wanted her to +go with him," he complained. + +"I did," said his mother imperturbably. "The girl saw a very personable +man, with more charm in his lightest smile, my poor son, than any other +here to-night. She was tempted to be forsworn, and I bade her go. Had I +intervened for you she would not have danced at all. Now you are sure +of her, for she cannot refuse, having danced once." + +In the ballroom Dominica had little opportunity to speak to Sir +Nicholas. She dreaded lest some overheard phrase might betray him; for +the first few steps of the dance she could only look up eloquently into +his face. They drew together a moment, and she whispered:--"You have +come! How could you dare?" + +"Had you not my word, little doubter?" + +They drew apart again; another couple was too close to allow them to +say more. The music stopped; Sir Nicholas was bowing, and Don Diego was +possessively at Dominica's elbow. + +She lived through another hour in a fret. Don Diego stayed close at +her side; she could only watch Beauvallet across the room, and long +to be alone with him. It seemed she would never find the opportunity, +but presently her cousin's attention was claimed, and he had to lead +another lady out to dance. Dominica cast a quick look round, saw her +aunt at the other end of the room, and drew back behind the ample form +of a portly dowager. She slipped along the wall then to where heavy +curtains hung, shutting off a small ante-chamber. Knowing Beauvallet's +eyes to be upon her she went through, and stood breathlessly waiting. + +The curtains moved; he was before her. She went to him in a little run, +with both her hands held out, and her eyes full of happy tears. "Oh, to +see you again!" she whispered. "I never thought it possible!" + +He gathered her hands in his, and held them clasped against his breast. +"Softly, my heart! This is dangerous work." His voice was quick and +decisive for all he spoke so low. "I must have speech with you alone. +Which way looks your chamber?" + +"To the garden. Ah, Nicholas, I have wanted you!" + +"My fondling!" His hands pressed hers closer. "Does your woman sleep +with you?" + +"Nay, I am alone." She looked wonderingly up at him. + +"Set a lamp in your window when you judge all to be asleep, to give me +a sign. Can you trust me?" + +"Ah, you know! You know I can trust only you. What will you do?" + +"Climb up to you, sweetheart," he answered, and smiled at her face of +amazement. "What windows look out that way?" + +"My woman's--my cousin's closet--some servants." + +"Good." He kissed her hands. "Expect me then when you show a light. +Patience, my bird!" + +He released her, and stepped back. The curtains parted for a moment, +and he was gone. + +The rest of the evening passed in a bewildered haze for her. She was +conscious only of Beauvallet's presence, but he did not come near her +again. Her cousin besought her to dance with him again, and when she +would not, stayed by her, teasing her ear with his soft speech. + +"Who was the Frenchman?" she asked. "The Chevalier. Is he of the +Ambassador's court?" + +"De Guise! No, my dear cousin, the Ambassador owns him not. Some idle +traveller swaggering abroad. I trust he will soon be gone from us. It +was no wish of mine that he should be invited here to-night. A trifler, +no more." + +"You do not like him, cousin?" she said, looking sideways. + +He raised those expressive shoulders. "An arrogant Frenchman who bears +himself as though he would snap his fingers in one's face! No, I do not +like him, cousin." + +A gleam of mischief shot into her eyes. "It is to be hoped he will not +snap his fingers in your face, cousin," she said demurely. + +"I should have but one answer, Dominica." He touched his sword-hilt. "I +do not think the gay Chevalier would return to France." + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + +It seemed an age before the house was quiet, and all lights put out. +Dominica sent her sleepy tirewoman away as soon as she came up from the +ball. The woman made little resistance, she could hardly keep her eyes +open, and was glad to be sent back to bed. Dominica let her unlace her +gown, and put away her jewels. She put on a loose wrapper, and laid +another log on the fire. As ill-luck would have it her aunt came in to +bid her good-night, and stayed to talk over the ball. She professed +herself thankful that the affair was over; it had been very dull, she +thought, and the Chevalier de Guise was the only relief she had had +from utter boredom. Dominica, very much on her guard, stifled a yawn, +and allowed the Chevalier to be well enough. + +"Do not lose your heart to him, my dear," remarked her aunt lazily. +"Frenchmen are sadly fickle, and I believe this one is betrothed +already." + +"Yes, so he said," Dominica answered. An imp of malice prompted her to +add:--"So my cousin need not be jealous of him, señora." + +"Diego is too much in love with you to forbear jealousy of any man who +looks twice at you," said Doña Beatrice, a hint of cynicism in her +voice. + +"Or is he in love with my money?" asked Dominica sweetly. + +"Very much, my dear. We all are." Nothing, it seemed, could disturb +Doña Beatrice's composure. She got up out of her chair, and tapped +her niece's cheek. "No more of this seclusion, child. You will show +yourself abroad a little, and remember that we shall soon leave this +tiresome town for a little quiet and peace." + +Dominica's eyes were cast down, but the breath was stayed in her +throat. "Very well, señora," she said submissively. "But do we leave +Madrid indeed?" + +"Shortly, my dear. We shall go north to Vasconosa as soon as may be, +and we will hope that Diego in the country will like you better than +Diego in town." + +Dominica dropped a curtsy. "I don't think it, señora." + +"No? But you can try to, my dear." Doña Beatrice went out with her slow +tread, and a minute later a door shut in the distance. + +Dominica sat down by the fire to wait. Presently she heard her aunt's +tirewoman pass by her door to the stairs that led to the servants' +quarters above. Don Rodriguez, coming up from downstairs, called a +good-night to his son, and went into his room. But Don Diego must needs +go into his closet, and stay there for what seemed an interminable time +to his impatient cousin. At length he came out, and went across the +hall to his bedchamber. Dominica heard him speak sharply to his man, +and shut the door with a snap. There was silence for a while, and then +the same door opened and shut again: his servant had put Don Diego to +bed at last. + +The man's footsteps died away on the stairs, and silence settled down +on the house. Still Dominica waited, counting the slow minutes. She +went presently to her door, and softly opened it. All was dark in the +passage. Holding her gown close about her that no rustle might betray +her presence she stole down the short corridor to the upper hall. A +bar of light beneath one of the doors showed that Don Diego was still +awake. Dominica stayed where she was, motionless against the wall. In a +few minutes the light disappeared. She crept back to her chamber, put +more wood upon the fire, and went to arrange her curls in the mirror. +When she judged that Don Diego had had time to fall asleep she went out +again into the passage, and this time took the precaution of listening +at her tirewoman's door. She heard a snore, and was satisfied, +knowing how very hard to wake was Carmelita. Flitting silently in her +stockinged feet she reached the hall, went ghost-like to three doors, +and at each listened intently. She must be sure, very sure, that the +whole house slept before she signalled to Beauvallet, for he came to +certain death if he should be discovered. + +No sound reached her straining ears; she crept back to her room, +stealthily shut the door, and little by little turned the key in +the lock. It went home with a click that seemed to din through the +stillness. She stayed, breathing fast, her ear to the crack. No +answering stir sounded; nothing but the grating of a mouse nibbling at +the wainscoting somewhere down the passage. + +She left the door then, and went to the window, and parted the heavy +curtains that hung over it. Holding her lamp in her hand she stepped +out on to the little semi-circular balcony. + +Moonlight flooded the garden below, and the trees cast ink-black +shadows on the ground. From out the shadow a shadow moved; she saw +Beauvallet cross the garden, and raised her free hand in a little +welcoming sign. He was beneath her balcony now; she had to lean over +to see him. How he would contrive to climb up she did not know, but +that he would manage it somehow she was very sure. + +He made surprisingly little work over it. A climbing rose gave him his +foothold. He came up swiftly and silently, braced a foot against the +iron pipe that ran down the side of the house from the rain-gutter, +seemed to measure the distance with his eye, and threw himself forward. + +Dominica stretched out her hand involuntarily to help him, but he +caught the rail of the balcony, and the next instant had swung a leg +over it, and was beside her. + +Neither spoke a word. Sir Nicholas had an arm about Dominica's waist, +and led her into the room, his other hand laid lightly across her +parted lips. She set the lamp down on the table while he closed the +long windows and drew the curtains over them. + +He turned, a moment looked at her, and opened his arms. Dominica went +into them in a little run, and felt them close tightly about her. + +"My heart! My dove!" + +She could only say: "You have come! You have come! It is you, really +you!" + +"Had you not my word?" + +"How could I believe? How could I think that you would dare--even you? +Oh, _querida_, why have you come?" Her hands tugged at his shoulders, +"There's death lurking in every corner for you!" + +"I have played many games with Death, fondling, but the dice always +fell my way. Trust me." + +"Mad!" she whispered. "Mad Nicholas!" + +He kissed her. For a while she was content to lie in his arms, but +presently she said on a sigh: "Folly, oh folly! I have brought you to +your death!" + +"Nay, nay, I came of mine own free will, as I swore I would--to make an +Englishwoman of you." He made her look up. "How now, my heart? Will you +go with Mad Nicholas?" + +She tried to hide her face. "It is not possible. You know it is not. +God knows how you are here, but you must go quickly, quickly! You could +never escape with me to burden you." + +"Give me a plain answer, fondling. Will you go with me?" + +She evaded him. "I have been so unhappy," she said pitifully. + +"You shall never be so again, I swear." He held her away from him. +"Will you trust me further yet? Will you put your life in my hands?" + +She looked up into his eyes, her own troubled and questioning. He had +taken her by storm; he was a lover from a fairy-tale, and she had +longed for him, and dreamed of him, but now that he spoke so urgently, +and looked so keenly, she realized all that it would mean to her if she +gave herself to him. He was a stranger and an Englishman, and if he won +out of Spain a strange land and a strange people awaited her. She loved +him, but how little she knew of him! A girl's fears shook her; she +looked searchingly, peering for the future, and the colour ebbed in her +cheeks. He awaited her answer; she thought how bright his eyes were, +how compelling. + +"Nicholas--you could not understand," she faltered. "I am so alone. I +do not know----" + +"I do understand," he answered instantly. "I love you. Trust me!" + +Her fingers sought his. "You will be good to me?" she said in a small +voice. + +He smiled. "I will never beat you," he promised. + +At that she smiled too, but fleetingly. "Nay, do not jest, do not laugh +at me!" she said. + +He raised her hands to his lips, and kissed them. "On my soul," he +said, "I've only the one ambition left; to care for you." + +She nestled back into his arms. "If we could! If we only could!" + +"What, doubting still?" he rallied her. "What do you fear, little faint +heart?" + +"To lead you to your death," she said. "How can I not fear it?" + +"Nay, nay, 'tis I shall do the leading," he smiled. "Have faith, O Lady +Disdain!" + +"Not that!" she protested, but a smile trembled on her lips at the old +memories the name conjured up. + +His arm was hard about her shoulders. "Do you love me?" he asked, and +his eyes compelled an answer from her. + +She looked up. "Do you not know that I do--doubter?" + +He swooped then, and kissed her almost before she was aware. +Holding her close still he asked her with the teasing note in his +voice:--"Shall I make an Englishwoman of you after all, my bird?" + +She nodded. "Only take me away," she said. "Take me away from here! +Anywhere!" + +For a moment he held her closely embraced, cheek to cheek. Then he let +her go, brought her to the fire, and made her sit down on the faldstool +before it. He stirred the smouldering log with his booted foot, and it +fell apart, and the flames sprang up. "Do they seek to wed you to that +pretty cousin of yours?" he asked abruptly. + +"I hate him!" she said. "I have told my aunt I will never, never wed +with him, but she--Nicholas, you do not know her! She smiles, and nods, +and agrees with me, but she is like a rock! She frightens me, Nicholas. +She is so quiet, and it is like a fate pursuing one! Yes, I am afraid, +I!" + +"No need," he said. "Remember I am near you, and take heart. Now how to +spirit you away?" + +"How did you come?" she asked. "In the _Venture_--that fishing village?" + +"Nay, over the border, openly, with letters to King Philip," he replied. + +She gasped. "Are you a wizard, then? Tell me, how?" + +"Very simply, child. My luck, no more. I fell in with a secret envoy to +the King, and him I slew perforce, and came on in his place. But to get +you to the coast is the problem now. It is a-many weary leagues, and +the hunt will be up then in right earnest. Barful, barful!" + +She sat straight on the faldstool. "Nay, but listen, Señor Nicholas! We +leave Madrid soon now--I do not know when, but soon. Doña Beatrice told +me so to-night, and hoped I might like Diego better in the country than +I do here. We go north, to Vasconosa, near Burgos. I do not know when, +but Doña Beatrice would wish it to be soon." + +"God 'ild her, then! What keeps her?" + +"Diego, I think. Oh no, she does not care for him, but of what use +to take me into the country if he be not by? And he hath engagements +still, and will not go till they are done." + +"Fiend seize the princox!" Beauvallet said. "North of Burgos? It will +serve, it will serve." + +She looked eagerly up at him. "It is not more than a day and a night +from the coast, but they will watch me close. Can you do it, Nicholas?" + +"Surely, surely, sweetheart. Have no fear. The _Venture_ will lie off +that port you wot of, and if the luck holds we may make it safely." +He went to the window, and drew back the curtain a little way. "It is +growing light, child. I must be gone." He came back to her, and took +her hands. "Leave me to find a way, chuck. Only let me have a sight of +you, and a word with you at need. I lie at the Rising Sun if you should +want me, and Joshua is with me to bear a message. I have been about +this town a little, but in no house do I meet you. You lie close, love." + +"I would not go out. That's over now. I shall go with my aunt to Don +Alonso de Alepero's house on Monday. Will you be there?" + +"I can arrange it," he said. "Expect to see me in this house as soon as +may be. This aunt of yours seems to have a fondness for me." He bent, +and kissed her hands. "Now fare thee well, my heart, and fear naught." + +"Only for you," she said. + +"Fear for me when you hear of my death," he smiled. "Not till then." +He held her close a moment. "Keep Diego at arm's length, my lass," he +said, twinkling, "or I might be tempted to out sword and thrust him +there." + +"Oh, you must be prudent!" she said urgently. "Promise me! He hates you +already; he said to-night almost as much." + +"God save his puppyhood!" said Sir Nicholas lightly. "Am I to be in a +sweat for fear of Master Puke-Stocking? We shall come to grips yet, he +and I. I can snuff out a fight with the best. He's hot for it." He bent +to kiss her lips. "A last good-night!" + +She gave it, clinging to him. "You must go--yes, you must go. Oh, my +love, I love you!" + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + +It was not perhaps surprising that in so short a time the gay Chevalier +de Guise made some noise about the town. He had the trick of it. To +be secret, to lie close, seemed to be no part of his design. His +credentials were good, Losa's patronage carried him whithersoever +he listed, and he used it to the full. There was scarcely anyone in +Madrid who had not heard of the Chevalier, few who had not met him. +From the Court came no sign. Philip must ponder his reply, annotate the +despatch, sleep upon it, lay it aside to ponder it yet again. Those who +sought to hurry the Catholic King did so to their own despair. He would +do nothing without carefully weighing it; if his brain worked slowly he +at least was not aware of it. He was methodical, plodding, infinitely +conscientious, and he prided himself upon his cautious judgment. + +For Philip to be dilatory up to a point suited Sir Nicholas very well, +since, as he saw it, nothing could be done in his affair while Dominica +still lay at Madrid. If Philip delayed too long, however, he would have +to employ another messenger to carry his answer back to the Guise. Sir +Nicholas would be very well pleased to get that answer into his own +hands, for it promised to be interesting to an English Protestant. +Walsingham would be glad of it, but Sir Nicholas had no notion of +serving Master Secretary to his own plan's undoing. There was food +enough for Walsingham in the Guise's cyphered letter, a copy of which +was safe in Beauvallet's possession. It concerned one Mary Stewart, +unfortunate lady, at present a state prisoner in England, and certain +illuminating schemes for her future as compiled by his Majesty King +Philip, and the Duc de Guise. Fine doings there! Enough to make Master +Secretary's hair stand on end. + +For the rest Sir Nicholas went junketing about the town, and by the way +gleaned some useful information likely to interest not only Walsingham, +but Sir Francis Drake too, and not less the Lord Admiral, Howard of +Effingham. There was a fleet building in Cadiz harbour; Sir Nicholas +made copious mental notes of the size and strength of those tall +galleons, and even toyed with the notion of travelling south to see for +himself. + +His behaviour during this period provoked nervous qualms in Joshua +Dimmock, who declared himself to be a meacock creature, and shivered +from time to time. He had reason for his qualms, for he had good +cause to know that never was Beauvallet so reckless as when he played +with danger on every hand. "Master," said he, "is there never one who +suspects?" + +"Ay, the French Ambassador," Sir Nicholas answered. "One of his +satellites hath been set to question me--very cleverly, so he thought." + +"God's me! this is to undo all! And you said, master?" + +"Oh, I gave him a bountiful answer, be sure," was all he could get from +Sir Nicholas. + +On Monday evening Dominica was to be seen at the Alepero house, off the +Calle Mayor. When Sir Nicholas could escape from the amiable clutches +of her aunt, he made his way to her side, ousted an admiring caballero +from his place of vantage there, and proceeded, to all appearances, to +pay his court to her. + +Don Diego, watchful in the background, was swift to interpose his +presence, but got little by that. + +"Ah, my bridal friend!" said Sir Nicholas, very urbane. "You are come +in a good hour, señor. Doña Beatrice is inquiring for you. You shall +not let us keep you." + +"My mother, señor?" said Don Diego, glaring his disbelief. + +"Your mother, my dear friend. You are loth to leave us, I perceive, and +I should be flattered but that I suspect the charms of this lady to be +the true cause." He bowed to Dominica. + +"I cannot suppose, señor, that my mother's need of me is urgent," said +Don Diego, colder still. + +"I am sure you underrate yourself," returned Sir Nicholas. + +Don Diego looked furious, but did not see how he might remain. "I am +obliged to you, Chevalier," he said, mighty sarcastic. "I do not permit +myself to forget that you are a visitor to Spain." There was a good +deal of meaning to this. Dominica stirred uneasily, and shot a quick +look up at Sir Nicholas. + +The mobile eyebrow was up; Sir Nicholas waited. Don Diego met his +look for a moment, then bowed ceremoniously, and walked away. They +understood one another well enough: what the tongues were not permitted +to say the eyes said fully. + +"Oh, folly!" Dominica breathed. "Why anger him? To what purpose?" + +Sir Nicholas was watching Don Diego go across the room. "I am certain +I shall not leave Spain until that paraquito and I have measured +swords," he said thoughtfully. + +"Señor Nicholas, I do not think that I was ever afraid until I met +you," Dominica said. "Why will you do these things?" + +He looked down at her. "What, afraid for me? Let be, child; there's no +need." + +"You run on your fate!" she insisted. + +He laughed impenitently. "I had liefer do that than run from it, +sweetheart," he said. "What news for me?" + +Her face clouded. "Not as we had hoped, Señor Nicholas. The King puts +off his removal to Valladolid, and we wait upon him. My uncle is in +attendance till then, you see. But I think I could contrive a little." +She looked up inquiringly. + +His eyes were warm with amusement. "Let me hear your plot, little +contriver." + +"Then do not laugh at me--robber," she retaliated. "Don Miguel de Tobar +is coming to town, and he is my uncle upon my mother's side, and I am +very sure that he would like me for his son Miguel." She nodded wisely, +and compressed her lips. + +"How she is sought after!" marvelled Sir Nicholas. "Surely it needs a +robber to win her." + +A dimple quivered. "Maybe, señor. Now I think it would not suit my good +aunt to have me throw myself upon Don Miguel's protection, for he has +influence with the King, and he might well get an injunction to have +me away from the Carvalhos. I think, Señor Nicholas, that if I were to +talk roundabout a little they would be very glad to bear me away to +Vasconosa, out of reach of Don Miguel. And there marry me, doubtless, +but you will be at hand." + +"Be very sure of it. Weave your toils, fondling, but walk warily, for I +misdoubt me that aunt of yours hath the seeing eye." + +Her eyes sparkled with mockery. "A word out of your own mouth, Señor +Pirate--trust me." + +At his mother's side Don Diego learned with little surprise but +considerable annoyance that she could not remember to have inquired for +him. She seemed amused when she heard how he had been sent off. "The +rogue!" she said, and chuckled. + +"This cousin of mine who will not think of espousals!" said Don Diego. +"She is willing enough to have that French ruffler whisper honeywords +in her ear. Mark you that!" + +"Of course she is," agreed Doña Beatrice. "I have no doubt he is very +adroit. If you were more of his complexion, my son, you might make +better speed with her." + +Don Diego made what speed he could next day, when he offered Dominica +his hand and his heart, and spoke his piece in passionate terms. She +saw her opportunity in this, and was quick to seize on it. Don Diego +was bidden take both hand and heart elsewhere; he pressed his suit more +ardently, dared to attempt a kiss. She whisked herself out of his hold, +flew into a royal rage, and flounced away to find her aunt. + +Doña Beatrice was confronted by Flaming Indignation in a charming form, +and blinked at it. + +"Señora!" broke out Dominica, panting over it. "I have to complain of +my cousin! I thought you had understood me very well when I told you +that I had no mind to wed with him, yet to-day I am to be teased, it +seems, by his demanding of my hand, and more beside! Ah, more indeed!" +Her eyes flashed sparks, her tongue darted its rage. "Your son, señora, +dares to lay hands on me! I am to be mauled like any kitchen-wench! I! +I say it is not to be borne, señora, nor will I bear it. This is no way +to go to work with me. You must learn, señora, and your son with you +that I am not to be so entreated, no, not I! And if you will not learn, +then my uncle of Tobar shall hear of it. What, am I--Rada y Sylva!--to +have easy kisses thrust on me, hateful fondlings, unmannerly hugs? No, +señora, no!" Her cheeks flew storm signals; she had her hands clenched +hard at her sides. + +Doña Beatrice put by the book of poems she had been reading, but +continued to fan herself. She watched closely under her weary eyelids. +"Well, you are in a great heat," she remarked. "But what is all this to +the purpose? If you do not like Diego's kisses my advice to you is that +you wed him with speed, for if he is at all my son he will very soon +cease to want what he may have for the mere asking." + +Real anger leaped up; my lady seemed to grow taller with it, a very +goddess. "This is to insult me! Nasty talk, señora! Shameful talk! +Well, my uncle is coming to town, as I hear, and in a good hour! Do you +think, señora, that he will approve your plans for me? Do you think it +indeed?" + +"I do not," said Doña Beatrice patiently. "I think he has some little +plans of his own for you, my dear, but, believe me, they differ in +only the one particular from mine, that he would change the name of +your bridegroom." + +"Señora, be assured of this, that any bridegroom were less distasteful +to me than your son!" said Dominica. + +"You have not seen young Miguel de Tobar," her aunt reminded her. "I +concede you Diego is not a Chevalier de Guise, my dear, but he is far +preferable to Miguel." + +"The Chevalier de Guise!" cried out Dominica hotly. "What is the +Chevalier de Guise to me? You do not put me off so, señora! I will have +a plain answer from you: will you seek another bride for my cousin?" + +"I thought we understood one another better, my dear," complained Doña +Beatrice. "Of course I shall not." + +"Then my uncle shall hear of it, señora. You force me to it. If he +thinks that I am content to serve the interest of Carvalho he shall +know that it is not so." + +Doña Beatrice went on fanning herself; her smile broadened. "How +foolish of you to warn me, my dear!" she remarked. "You should not +let yourself be in such a passion. You show me your defences, which +is quite ridiculous of you. I fear you will never win in a battle of +wits with me. Now had you curbed your temper, my dear, you would have +carried out this plan of yours in secret, and discomposed me sadly. I +should certainly have respected you." She picked up the book of poems +again, and began to find her place in it. "Of course you will be away +from Madrid by the time Tobar enters it." + +Dominica knew those sleepy eyes watched her still. There was no saying +what Doña Beatrice suspected, what traps she might be laying. The girl +let her eyes fall, bit her lips, moved a hand amongst the laces at her +bosom as though she were agitated. Her wits against her aunt's? She +was very content to set them up for a battle; played her little comedy +better even than she knew. "Aunt!" She pretended to seek for words, put +her hands together as though she would clasp them, moved them apart +again. Her eyes lifted; she tossed up her head. "And I will still find +means to let him know how you use me!" she cried. "You may do as you +please, señora, but you will not induce me to wed with Don Diego!" She +judged that to be enough: there had been sufficient childish petulance +in her voice to satisfy her aunt. She flung round on her heel, and ran +out. + +Doña Beatrice went on reading her poems. At dinner, some hours later, +she spoke to her husband in a slow, lazy voice, and with a glance of +amusement at Dominica. "I find, señor," she said, "that these heats tax +me too much. Madrid becomes insupportable." + +Don Rodriguez was all solicitude at once, wondering fussily what might +be done to relieve the lady. She broke into his talk. "I have a simpler +remedy than these of yours, señor. I shall go to Vasconosa ahead of +you." She paused, and pulled a dish of sugar-plate towards her. "To-day +is Tuesday," she remarked. "Shall we say a week from to-day?" + +Don Diego looked sharply; Dominica kept her eyes down. She judged from +her aunt's faintly derisive tone that she had ascertained the date of +Tobar's arrival in Madrid. She could have wished it had been nearer, +since every day Sir Nicholas spent in Madrid added to his danger. +There could be no peace for her while he stayed. A grim fear stalked +beside her; every day she dreaded to hear of his capture; every time +she saw him his very carelessness brought her heart into her mouth. +There was a price to be paid by the lady who was loved by Mad Nicholas. + +He came that evening to wait on Doña Beatrice. It seemed he had an +assignation with her; she had lent him a Romance, and he came to give +it back to her, and stayed on talking French with her. + +His audacity passed all bounds, Dominica thought. She withdrew towards +the window, and looked severely when he flung a compliment, like a +challenge, at her. She bore herself like a maid whose primness was +shocked; only he was to know that her reproachful look was to reprimand +his recklessness, not his gallantry. + +She wondered whether she dared tell him that she was to leave Madrid +that next week. While she sought in her mind for a phrase that should +seem innocent enough, her aunt took the words out of her mouth. + +Having got the information he wanted Sir Nicholas soon took his leave. +There was some idle play between him and Doña Beatrice; Dominica had to +bite her lip to keep from smiling. Sir Nicholas humoured Doña Beatrice +to the top of her bent, whispered his audacities into her receptive +ear, and showed his watchful lady very plainly that he knew well what +way to use with her sex. But even as he devoutly kissed Doña Beatrice's +large white hand he shot a rueful, laughing look at Dominica, as though +to deprecate her silent reproof. + +He came to take his leave of her; she was on tenterhooks at what his +mad humour might prompt him to say or do, and curtsied very stiffly. +She would not look at him as she held out her hand. It lay in his, held +firmly, but he did not kiss it at once. His voice sounded, brimful of +teasing mischief, "But how she is cold!" he said. + +She tried to draw her hand away; she was near to boxing his ears. + +"My dear Chevalier, you have shocked my niece," said Doña Beatrice, +amused. "She is unused to your French ways. We do not go to work so +hardily in Spain." + +"Have I shocked her? Will she not look at me, and smile at me as she +knows how?" + +At that her eyes lifted. She had no smile for him, but a straight look, +a little fierce. She saw the laugh dancing in his eyes, and dropped her +own again. "I fear she is very angry with me," said Sir Nicholas sadly. +"She frowns, alas! I think if she had--let us say, a dagger--to hand, I +were sped." + +Her hand quivered. "You are pleased to jest, señor." + +He bent his head, and kissed her fingers. "Señorita, my heart is under +your feet." + +"Chevalier, Chevalier, you are a trifler!" said Doña Beatrice. "A +moment since I had thought it was under mine." + +Dominica got her hand free at last. Sir Nicholas turned to Doña +Beatrice. "Ah, madame," he said, "you are severe. But I have so many +hearts." + +She laughed. "Ungallant, I protest! And is there ever a one among the +many that will be true, I wonder? Oh, these Frenchmen!" + +"Only one, madame," said Sir Nicholas meekly. + +She raised her brows, willing to be entertained. "Ah? To whom this one?" + +"Madame, to my betrothed," said Sir Nicholas, "She hath it all." + +She shrugged at that. "Why, it's very dutiful, señor, but I wonder what +you will say--a year hence?" + +Dominica turned her back, and looked out into the garden. + +"Oh, it is of so faithful a disposition, madame, I am very sure +I shall but repeat myself. But I shall still have a heart to lay +in--admiration--at your feet." Upon which he took his leave, not before +it was time, thought Dominica. + +Her aunt began to talk of the coming journey to Vasconosa. + +But there was to be another traveller bound thitherwards of whom she +knew nothing. Back at the Rising Sun again Sir Nicholas studied such +maps as he could come by, and conned the road as best he might. Joshua +Dimmock, watching, took heart again, and said darkly to the coat he +was folding that the sooner they were off upon this journey the better +it would be for them. "Yet," said he, brushing dust from a pair of +hose, "I must ask myself, what if the _Venture_ be not there? With the +General not on board it is to be questioned whether she may keep safe +in Spanish waters. Ay, there's a rub." He eyed his master's abstracted +profile, and sighed. "We may make marks upon a map, I grant you, and +mutter of stages, but I hold, and mark me well, that we may not be +sure of a happy issue. I had rather than fifty pounds I were snug +at home. It needs not to tell me that we shall make that smuggling +port. I make bold to say that we may do that in spite of all these +bisson Spaniards. But how if we come upon this port, and find no ship +awaiting? Ay, then we are shent. We spend the remainder of our days in +Spain, and they will not be many, I warrant me! All to hang upon the +_Venture_, and the _Venture_ sailing without her General! Ah, the whole +emprise is very barful." + +Beauvallet looked up. "Peace, chewet! What ails you?" + +"This ails me, master, that you have not the means to be avised of the +_Venture's_ being in these waters." + +"Am I so often disobeyed then?" + +"Nay, I do not say that, sir, nor would I doubt the good faith of +Master Dangerfield, but I say, master, that he is not Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet, and he may well fail." + +"Oh, croaker! You bring up objections cut and longtail. You're +bird-eyed, man, and see danger in every corner. Diccon has as cool a +head as you may wish to see, and has my orders to go upon beside. I +don't fear for aught there. What, would my men fail me when I was in +need?" + +"Nay, nay, but if you fear naught there, master, what is it you do +fear?" + +"To say truth." Beauvallet answered. "I mislike the look of yon French +Ambassador." + +"For my part, sir, I mislike that popinjay cousin of your lady's. If +he is not of a mind to pick a quarrel with you I do not know the signs +when a man will be in fighting humour." + +"God help him, then!" Beauvallet said, and bent again over his map. "My +lady goes to Vasconosa on Tuesday next. Now, it is in my mind that we +will attend her on that journey." + +"Ay, and then, master?" + +"God's Death, man, how do I know who have not seen the place. We shall +carry her off, and to the coast. Ask me more when I know more." + +"I fear a mischance," Joshua said sadly. "This runs too smoothly for a +coil of yours, sir." + +Beauvallet folded his map, and put it safely away. There was a look in +his face that Joshua had seen there once or twice before. "Fear what +you will," said Sir Nicholas, "and let come what may. I tell you, by +this hand, I will reach Vasconosa, and have my lady away before she has +slept two nights in the place!" + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + +Don Diego, accompanying his parents and his cousin to an evening party +at the house of Don Luis de Noveli suspected his cousin of going +only to meet the Chevalier. His mother was more than weary of these +suspicions, and would lend them no ear. "My dear Diego," said she, +before they had left the house. "The Chevalier shocks Dominica far +more than he fascinates her. I regard the coming of Tobar with more +misgiving." + +"We shall have her fast at Vasconosa by then," he said, "and the knot +may well be tied before he can act. I would not put it beyond her to be +off with that tricksy Frenchman, if only to spite us all. I tell you, +señora, he was at her side more than half the evening at de Chinchon's +house last night, paying his court to her." + +"How well you play the jealous lover!" admired his mother. "I never +knew you had it in you to hate anyone as you hate this conquering +stranger. It is most entertaining." + +There is no doubt this young man had conceived a very violent dislike +for Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, and was at increasingly little pains to +conceal it. Maybe those blue eyes mocked too openly. Don Diego knew +himself for a very exquisite caballero, and it was evident Sir Nicholas +had no such notion of the matter. Sir Nicholas had a curl of the lip +that offended; he laughed for no apparent reason, and bore himself as +though there were few whom he considered worth the snap of a finger. +His careless eyes, with the laughter half stayed in them, looked +quizzically, as though he would say, "Do you want to fight me? Well, I +am ready for you, but I shall not wait upon you." He went abroad with +a light, swinging stride, as though he were very much at home, and the +very carriage of his neat head betokened arrogance. Don Diego burned to +let a little of this proud blood. + +He felt all his suspicions confirmed when he saw that the Chevalier was +present at the gathering. Since his mother refused to pay any heed to +his suspicions he determined to keep a close watch on Dominica himself, +and stayed as near her as he might all the evening. She bore this as +best she might, and hoped that Beauvallet would not come near. He was +quite capable of coming to her out of sheer devilry, she thought, and +when she caught his eye across the room she put all the warning she +could into her look. He made a grimace, but for once was obedient to +the pleading in her eyes. She had scolded him well for his behaviour +at the Casa Carvalho when she had met him last night. She told him +that such dangerous work brought her heart up into her mouth, and he +had kissed her fingers, and sworn he was a villain to alarm her. That +was all very well, but Doña Dominica had realized by now that her +lover was not only head-strong, but took a wicked delight in tempting +long-suffering Providence. But it seemed her words had had some effect, +for he kept aloof from her now. He was in his gayest mood. How could +she help watching him, dreading disaster? + +She had a feeling of foreboding; maybe it was due to her cousin's +unwelcome presence beside her, and the knowledge she had that he too +was watching Beauvallet, with scowling hatred in his face. She tried +to be rid of him, but he stuck close, and she saw that he suspected +her of wanting to have Beauvallet beside her. She was rescued at last +by her aunt, who presented her to a prim girl who had said she would +so much like to meet the lady who had been captured by the notorious +pirate. + +Sir Nicolas was within earshot, and what must the prim girl do but +ask a score of questions about El Beauvallet. Doña Dominica answered +as briefly as she might, afraid every moment that Sir Nicholas' merry +humour would break out. Out of the tail of her eye, as she told her +eager listener that she had not been brutally used by the demon-pirate, +she saw the smile lilting on his lips, and knew that he was listening. + +"Oh, señorita, it was a miracle!" said the prim girl fervently. "But +tell me, what is he like, this terrible man?" + +"Indeed, señorita, there is very little to tell," said Dominica, +impatient. "He is a man like other men. I observed nothing remarkable +in him." + +"I had heard," said the girl, rather disappointed, "that he was very +handsome, and we know that he is daring." + +"He is well enough," said Dominica. "I think you in Spain have made too +great a figure of him. He is nothing above the ordinary." + +The black head turned; to her horror she saw that that left eyebrow had +flown up. God send the man Beauvallet was talking to suspected nothing! +She turned her shoulder resolutely. Was this a time to send a jesting +look at her? + +The prim girl, baulked of excitement, began to talk of Santiago, and +asked more questions. Dominica was rescued at length by Don Rodriguez, +who put a hand on her arm, and smiled at her in the deprecating way +he used. "There is one present, dear child, whom you would be glad +to meet, perchance. One who was lately at Santiago, and whom I think +you know." He lowered his voice mysteriously. "In ill-odour just now, +alas, but you will not regard it," he said, leading her across the +room. "He lost his ship--but you would know all that, for it must have +chanced before you came home." He was making for a group by the door, +unconscious of the rising tide of foreboding in his niece. "One cannot +but feel for him, but he has been much blamed. In ill-odour at Court, +my dear, so you will be wary of how you speak of such matters." + +A chill was spreading over her. "Who is it?" she said levelly. + +"Did I not say? It is Don Maxia de Perinat, child. He who was sent to +chase El Beauvallet, and--and failed. He tells me that he knew you and +your poor father." He coughed, and went on hurriedly. "Of course you +will not mention the disaster." + +Perinat! Perinat in Spain, and in this very house! Perinat, whom she +had last seen wild-eyed and stuttering, raving of an English devil +who laughed, and cracked a jest in the heat of battle. Every instinct +strained to shriek the news to Beauvallet, and tell him to go, go +before this looming peril could catch him up. Involuntarily she turned +her head to seek him in the crowd. She saw only the back of his black +head, the width of his shoulders. And then, while her thoughts raced, +she was aware of Perinat bowing over her hand, and offering condolences +for the death of her father. + +She shook off the gathering numbness that threatened to overcome her, +and forced herself to answer, to go on talking, to keep him by her at +all costs, away from Sir Nicholas, so unconscious at the other end of +the room of this imminent danger. She hardly knew what she said; her +mind was casting this way and that for the means of warning Beauvallet. +She stood before Perinat, with a forlorn hope of shielding Beauvallet +from his notice, and for the only time in her life was glad to see her +cousin approaching. She presented him to Perinat at once, hoping that +they would fall into conversation and give her time to slip away to Sir +Nicholas' side. + +Don Diego was bowing; Perinat had a polite word for the son of an +old acquaintance. And then, in a momentary lull, came the sound of +Beauvallet's gay voice, crisp and clear, and fatally carrying. + +Perinat's head was jerked up instantly; he broke off in the middle of a +sentence. "_Madre de Dios_, I should know that voice! What witchcraft +is this?" he said hoarsely. + +Dominica began to talk feverishly, but she was not heeded. Perinat had +stepped quickly forward, and was staring at Beauvallet's profile, like +one who could not believe his eyes. + +Sir Nicholas was talking to his Andalusian friend. Numb with horror +Dominica saw the characteristic movement of the back-flung head, and +heard the gay laugh that could never be forgotten. + +"Ah!" The sound, hardly more than a gasp, came from Don Maxia. His +hand was fumbling at his sword hilt. "_Sangre de Dios_, am I in my +senses? Do I dream? _El Beauvallet!_" + +The name was shouted. Sir Nicholas swung round of instinct, but in this +was nothing singular. There was scarcely a man present who did not spin +about at the sound of that dread name flung across the room. + +Dominica saw the quick glance sweep the group by the door. Sir Nicholas +saw Perinat standing livid and staring, but only the veriest flash of +recognition came into his eyes. + +Don Rodriguez was bewildered, as was everyone, but found his tongue +sooner than the rest. "What do you say, Perinat? Are you mad? +Who--what----?" + +"It is he! It is Beauvallet--Beauvallet's self, I tell you! _Sangre de +Dios_, do I not know him? Have I not cause? Shall I ever forget that +face, or that laugh, body of God! Ah, dog! ah, villain! At last, at +last!" + +The startled whisper, "_El Beauvallet, El Beauvallet!_" ran round the +room; Perinat's shaking hand pointed straight at Sir Nicholas. Amazed +faces peered; those near Beauvallet fell back suddenly, and more than +one hand felt for a sword hilt. Only Sir Nicholas stood unmoved, an +eyebrow raised in mild surprise, a look of interrogation in his face. + +"But--but that is the Chevalier de Guise!" someone said in a dazed +voice. "How should El Beauvallet be in Spain?" + +"I tell you it is he! I, Maxia de Perinat, who have fought with him +hand to hand!" Perinat's words seemed to jostle one another. "Lay +hands on him! Will you let him escape? I swear on the Cross it is El +Beauvallet!" + +"Perinat's misfortunes have turned his brain," whispered the Andalusian. + +Dominica stepped forward a pace. "Why, what are you saying, Don Maxia? +That is not Beauvallet!" Her voice was perhaps unnaturally calm, "I +should know, surely. This man is certainly not he." + +There was a movement behind her; Don Diego's hand gripped her +wrist. "Ah, jade, I have it at last!" he said fiercely. "This is El +Beauvallet, this flaunting Chevalier, and he is your lover!" + +There was a buzz of excited whispering. Someone moved to the door, as +though to guard it. Beauvallet's voice cut through the subdued babel. +"God's Life, I am flattered!" he said, and even in the midst of her +sick terror, Dominica could exult in the cool amusement in his tone, +and worship the iron nerve that could keep him careless and mocking +still. "Do you take me for El Beauvallet, señor?" + +"Jesting dog of a pirate, are you not he? Ah, dare you look me in the +face and say you are not he?" + +"What need? This is moon-madness, señor, or you are cup-shotten. If I +were Beauvallet, what in God's name should I hope to make here?" + +"I believe him!" Don Diego was at Perinat's side. "There is more to +this Chevalier de Guise than we know. I will tell you what you hope to +make, pirate! You hoped to snatch my cousin away. I see it all now, but +you shall go to perdition on my sword's point first!" He dragged his +sword from the scabbard as he spoke, and sprang forward. + +There was a hiss of steel, the glint of candlelight on a blue, +shimmering blade. Beauvallet's leaping sword was out, a true piece from +the hand of Sahagom of Toledo. Don Diego's thrusting point was caught +on the swift blade and beaten aside. Beauvallet sprang back to the +wall, and stood facing his assailant. Dominica saw the gleam of white +teeth as he smiled. + +"Well, gentlemen, well? I await you. Is there any other will come to +Don Diego's assistance? If I am El Beauvallet it will take a-many and +a-many!" + +"Stand back, stand back, this is for me!" Perinat cried, and thrust Don +Diego aside. "Measure your sword with mine yet once again, pirate! Do +you remember how the deck was slippery beneath your feet? Ha, do you +remember, dog?" He snatched at his dagger, and bore down on Beauvallet, +a weapon in either hand. + +"Hold off your madman," said Sir Nicholas. "Perchance I may do him a +mischief. So-so, señor! Gently, then, and keep your guard!" He saw Don +Diego advancing on him from the side, and shifted to face him, holding +Perinat at check. + +Noveli, master of the house, was shocked out of his stupefaction, and +rushed forward, pulling out his sword. + +"What, more?" said Sir Nicholas. "Oh, brave! I am well-matched indeed." + +"Hold, hold!" Noveli cried, and beat up the swords. "What, are you +crazy, Perinat? Put up, young señor! put up, I say! This, in my house! +Shame! Shame on you both!" + +"Seize on him!" Perinat gasped. "Seize on him, I tell you! Will you let +him go, you fools? It is El Beauvallet!" + +Beauvallet stood leaning lightly on his rapier, and laughing as though +he found the situation irresistibly amusing. "Peace, Señor Greybeard, I +am here still!" + +"He laughs at you! See how he mocks!" Perinat cried, almost beside +himself. "Put my words to the test! Call the guard! Call in the guard!" + +Diego put up his sword. "Yes, let the guard be called in," he said. "We +will sift this to the bottom. Ho, there! Call in the guard!" + +Noveli turned quickly. "Do you give orders in my house, Don Diego?" + +But many voices took up the cry. "Yes, let the guard be summoned! Let +the matter be looked to, Noveli! If Perinat is mistaken the Chevalier +will pardon it. If he speaks sooth--nay, have in the guard!" + +Noveli looked uncertainly at Beauvallet, torn between his feelings as +a host, and his suspicions. Behind Beauvallet was a phalanx of men +watching for the least sign of an attempt to escape. And Beauvallet +held his sword between his hands, and laughed. + +"I should send for the guard, señor," he said. + +"Chevalier, you will pardon such seeming rudeness," Noveli said, +seriously put out. + +"With all my heart, señor," Beauvallet answered lightly. His glance +flickered to Dominica's face of despair; his hand went to his beard, +and for an instant a finger lay across his lips. He saw her eyes fall, +and knew that she had understood. + +Someone had sped forth to call the guard. Sir Nicholas turned his head, +and seemed amused to see so many gathered between him and the door. +"God's my life, you hold this Beauvallet a desperate man, do you not, +señors?" he said. + +Perinat put up his sword. His first wild passion had died down; he +spoke calmly now, but with great bitterness. "Desperate indeed must you +be to dare come into Spain," he said, "You have made a jest of me, and +of others, Beauvallet, but he who laughs last may laugh the longest." + +Beauvallet's eyes glinted. "The last laugh, señor, is certainly going +to be mine," he said. "You say that I am Beauvallet, but there is one +yonder who says I am not, and it seems she should know." + +"She does know!" Don Diego said, ignoring a warning look from his +mother. "You cannot fool us thus, dog!" + +"Enough of that!" Again Noveli intervened. "This is for other +interrogation than yours, Don Diego. Hold your peace, I command you! If +we do you an injustice, Chevalier, I hope you will be kind enough only +to laugh at us." + +"You may be sure of it, señor," said Sir Nicholas. "We shall all +laugh." Again his glance flitted to Dominica's face. "Let no one be ill +at ease. This affair will have a happy ending, don't doubt it." There +came a stir by the door, and the clank of spurred heels. "Aha, the +guard! Now by my faith you count El Beauvallet a dangerous fellow! As I +live, the Guards of Castile, and a round dozen of them!" + +He was surrounded. The lieutenant, who wore a face of incredulous +wonder, bowed stiffly. "Señor, I regret, I must ask you for your +sword." It was presented him, hilt foremost. "Señor, be good enough to +go with us." + +"With the greatest pleasure on earth Señor lieutenant," said +Beauvallet. He looked towards the Andalusian. "Don Juan, it seems I may +have to forego my game of _trucos_ with you to-morrow, and maybe some +other engagements I had made. Accept my apologies. But all the other +engagements that I have for later dates shall certainly be kept. Señor, +lead on!" + +He went out, close-guarded, but his voice echoed still in Dominica's +ears: "The engagements that I have for later dates shall certainly be +kept ... shall certainly be kept." + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + +Joshua Dimmock, prowling in the shadows outside the Casa Noveli, saw +enough, and more than enough to set him fingering his dagger. Certain, +it itched to be out, but "Yarely, my man, yarely," Joshua cautioned +himself. "One man at large is better than two caged." + +It was his habit to lurk near whatever house Sir Nicholas stayed in. He +was laughed at for his pains, but laid a finger to his nose. "I look +for trouble," quoth Joshua Dimmock. "I don't wait to have it brought to +my notice." + +It seemed he had good reason. The gentleman who went running out to +fetch in the _ginetes_ from the barracks hard by little knew how +nearly he ran on death. The dagger was out, a wicked blade, long and +razor-edged; Joshua, guessing from the sound of turmoil within what +evil fate had chanced, guessed also this flying gentleman's errand. To +stab him where the neck joined the shoulder would be easy enough. Ay, +and then what? Joshua put up his dagger, snatched so instinctively from +its sheath. No way to get Sir Nicholas off, that. + +He bethought him that he had maybe let his mind jump at conclusions; +drew further into the shadows, and waited. He saw the _ginetes_ come; +they passed so close he might have touched one. They went into the +house, and came out again soon with Sir Nicholas Beauvallet in their +midst. + +"Ay, I beagled it out well enough," Joshua muttered. "Now what?" +He saw Sir Nicholas walking briskly between his guards, heard him +say something to the lieutenant, and laugh. "He goes fleering to +death!" groaned Joshua. "Mocker, mocker! Will you not look your fate +in the face and know yourself sped at last? But this is to tax idle +circumstance." He pulled himself together. "Up, mother-wit! No time for +mourning, this." He peered towards the open door of the house, where +two lackeys stood talking excitedly together. "I see the first step of +my way. Now to sound these hildings." He withdrew a little way, came +out from the shadow of the wall, and went towards the Casa Noveli at +a brisk trot. "What's here?" he cried out. "Guards at your place! Who +was't? Strange doings!" He became the epitome of curiosity, and got his +answer. + +"_Madre de Dios!_" one of the lackeys said. "They say it is the pirate, +El Beauvallet!" + +"Jesu!" Joshua fell back, and crossed himself. "That fine gentleman? Do +you make a jest of me? How should such a thing be, pray you?" + +The first man shook his head hopelessly; it was his companion who +answered, as he prepared to go indoors. "Why, there's Admiral Perinat +within, foaming like a mad dog." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. +"He it was cried out on the Chevalier." + +Joshua wanted no more. The lackeys went in, remembering their duties; +Joshua went speeding towards the Puerta del Sol. + +He was in time; no guards had come yet to the Rising Sun to ransack +his master's baggage. He slipped in at the back entrance, waited for a +cook-maid's back to be turned, and so got him upstairs unseen. + +He did swift work there. Doublets, hose, boots, shirts were flung from +the chest by the window, some of them stowed away pell-mell into a +pack, the rest left to lie on the floor. + +"Here we play the knavish servant," Joshua encouraged himself. "What +it is to have a head on one's shoulders!" He found Sir Nicholas' +strong-box, and forced it open with the point of his dagger. "Ay, +thus it goes. We take the money, and some few papers we may need, and +leave the box to tell of our thieving. Ha, what's this?" He unfolded +the Chevalier de Guise's pass. "Softly, Joshua, that should be found, +for I think we have no more need of it, and it may very easily help +Sir Nicholas. We must be supposed to have searched in vain for it." +He looked round him, saw a loose mandilion he had pulled out of the +cupboard, and caught it up. "In the pocket, I believe. Lie there then, +and I hope they may find you." He tucked the pass into an inner pocket, +and hung the coat up at the back of the cupboard. "Ay, we sought it, +and found it not. It may serve you yet, master." He came away from the +cupboard. "Cheerly, Joshua! all will be well yet. Now to stow these +clothes away." He packed as much of Sir Nicholas' raiment as he could +carry with him, hid the jewels about his own person, and nipped out to +get such of his own traps as he should need. Still there came no sound +of guards approaching to seize Beauvallet's papers. Joshua spied from +the window, listened, heard only the voice of a tapster below, and drew +in again to finish his work. Two neat bundles stood ready upon the +floor, but this did not seem to be enough for Joshua Dimmock. He went +to work to create more havoc, and succeeded very fairly. A small chest +he had emptied he chose to lock, and then break open. He tossed an old +doublet into it, a pair of stocks, a riding boot. "Ay, that is the way +it goes. The naughty knave to rifle his master's chest! Master, you may +live to thank God you have me for your servant yet." He stood back, +and surveyed the litter. "A rare gallimaufry, by my faith! What more? +God's light! The sword!" He slapped his forehead, and darted to unearth +the weapon from the depths of the cupboard in the wall. Out it came, +that blade from the hand of Ferrara, delicate, flexible, with straight +quillons, and a knuckle-bow of two shell shapes, chased with gold. "_My +bite is sure!_" quoth Joshua. "I warrant me!" + +Downstairs the inn was quiet, for it was late into the evening now. +Joshua might have got away with none to see his flight, but chose +instead to stumble into the sleepy tapster. He executed a well-feigned +start, and let fly a French oath. "_Sangdieu!_" A ducat was pressed +into the tapster's hand. "You do not see me," said Joshua. "Eh?" + +"I see you very plainly," said the tapster, a-gape. + +"That is not how it runs. Look you!" He took the tapster's ear between +finger and thumb, and whispered. "Word's brought my master's clapped +up. Do you take me now? Well, he will be free soon enough, I suppose, +but I'll not be here to see it." He looked slyly. "There's a little +farm in Picardy, and a rare wench to be won--if a man had the means." +He patted the money-bags slung about his waist; indeed he fairly +staggered under the weight of them. "I don't let opportunity slip, +Mother of God!" + +The tapster was bemused. He twisted his ear free. "What's this? Your +master clapped up?" + +"Some idle talk of his being El Beauvallet. Ho-ho, a very likely tale! +Think I, it's some enemy has put this on him, for he's known the length +and breadth of France for a Guise. But these are not matters for me. +I'm for the Frontier, and a good riddance to a bad master!" + +The tapster was left to blink after him. He shook his head, making +nothing of all this mysterious talk, and yawned, and wondered what +o'clock it might be. Joshua got clear away while he was still wondering. + +There was one other who was concerned in this capture, one who had also +a part to play, and was warily mindful of it. The party at Noveli's +house broke up swiftly, but not before many guests had crowded round +Doña Dominica to hear what she might have to say. + +In her heart was despair, for the hawk was snared, but she could +still do what she might to aid him. Courage mounted; she set to +fanning herself, and forced her pale lips into a smile of incredulity. +"Señors, I have no more to say than what I have said. If this man +is El Beauvallet he is changed indeed since last I saw him, I grant +you a like colouring, but for the rest--_Madre de Dios_, if you but +knew the pirate, and had heard his abominable Spanish!" She tinkled a +laugh, became aware of her aunt close beside her, and turned. "Well, +señora, your poor Chevalier is fallen upon an evil hour indeed!" She +sank her voice. "Perinat----" She looked significantly, and touched her +forehead. "Ever since he lost his ship he has been--strange in the head +on this one subject." She nodded wisely. + +Don Diego made as if to speak, but his mother interposed. "I have not +been so entertained for many a long day," she said. "I am for my bed +now. I suppose we shall hear more of this in the morning. Come, my +dear. Do you follow us, Don Diego?" + +He waved them away; he had still much to say, and was burning to say +it. "Presently, señora. Do not wait upon my coming." + +Doña Beatrice led her niece to make her curtsey to their hostess. + +There was a battle to be fought now, harder than the skirmish that +had just passed, Dominica knew well. As they jolted homewards in the +bumping coach Don Rodriguez was left to talk as he pleased. Doña +Beatrice lay back against the cushions, and allowed him to run on. He +exclaimed, wondered, surmised to his fidgetty heart's content, and his +niece put in a word where she might. + +They reached the Casa Carvalho. Doña Beatrice went with her niece up +the stairs, and followed her to her chamber. Dominica had herself well +in hand. Now for the battle! now for the setting up of wits against +wits! + +Doña Beatrice sank down into a chair by the window. "So that is it!" +she said, amused. "What a daring lover you have, my dear! Yes, I was +hoodwinked. I must be getting old." She shook her head over it. + +"Heaven, señora, are you too besotted then?" asked Dominica scornfully. + +"Make no mistake, my dear," said Doña Beatrice placidly, "I wish him +all success. Diego was in a rare taking, was he not. Yes, many of them +there had a fine scare to-night. Cry Brava, El Beauvallet! But I think +I will have you away into the country." She smiled. "A very charming +romance, my dear. A pity it can come to naught." + +Dominica pressed her hands to her temples. "You make my head to reel!" +she complained. "I love a pirate? God save you, señora, what next will +you put on me?" + +Doña Beatrice nodded. "Very well played, my dear. You have more head +than I gave you credit for. But you need not be so careful now. I have +no wish to see your hero perish. No, none whatsoever, I assure you. +I have nothing but respect for a man of such daring. I wonder how he +contrived to come by those papers of his? It would make a rare tale, I +do not doubt. Alack, I am not like to hear it." She sighed. "But for +you, my child--you must be got away with all speed." + +"Why must I?" Dominica blinked at her. "Am I in peril, señora, because +your infamous son accuses me of having a pirate for my lover?" + +"Yes, was it not foolish of him? Madness!" agreed her aunt. "He has no +head. Enough, one would say, to bring the familiars of the Inquisition +to our house to-morrow. That, my dear, is one reason why you should be +got away, and swiftly wed. We shall give the lie to suspicion of heresy +against you. No doubt, if his papers are in order, as I daresay they +may be, El Beauvallet will be set at large. Faith, a man who would take +his life in his hand right to the heart of Spain might even contrive to +snatch you from under my nose! Well, child, all honour to him if he can +compass it, but you shall not expect me to lend him my aid." + +"If his papers are in order," Dominica pointed out, "he will stand +proved to be the man he says he is, so what fear?" + +"Ah, but I too have brain. I see much now that--I confess--was hidden +from me before." She smoothed the heavy silk of her dress. She was +still smiling, still imperturbable. "Such a personable man--to be a +pirate. I do not blame you at all, my dear. You made rare work of it +aboard that ship, did you not? It is all most enlivening. For you I +admit a pang or two. It will pass, and you will remember that you have +had more romance than comes to most women in this weary world. But we +shall leave Madrid. Certainly we shall leave Madrid." + +"As you please, señora, but you give me no good reasons." + +Doña Beatrice picked up her fan. "I will give you one you may perceive +to be good, child. If you stay here you may haply be examined. Now I do +not want that." + +"I am very willing, aunt. I can but say what I have said." + +"King Philip, and the Holy Inquisition," said her aunt gently, "are not +nice in their methods of obtaining information. Enough harm has been +done already without you becoming suspected to be a heretic." She rose, +and went with her languid step to the door. "We will have you safe +married, my dear, and think out some tale against our need. As I see +it, my child, you cannot better serve this bold lover of yours than to +give the lie in such a way to those who suspect you and him." + +The attack was renewed again next day, by Don Diego now, curbing his +anger. He pressed marriage on his cousin, hinted his father might +intercede for El Beauvallet, besought her to wed him at once, and trust +to his good offices to help Beauvallet. + +These were blundering tactics; Dominica curled her lip at them and +him. Well she knew that once his identity was proved no power under +the sun could save Beauvallet. The Holy Inquisition would step in and +claim him; it was not necessary for Don Diego to tell her that she +would see her lover burned at the stake. She knew it, had faced the +horror squarely, and would not now change colour. Desperate need lent +her courage, and agility of mind. She never hesitated, never blanched, +could still laugh her scorn. "This is very kind, cousin!" she said +tauntingly. "And if the unfortunate gentleman were indeed El Beauvallet +and beloved of me no doubt I should avail myself of your offer." Oh, +but her tongue had a sting in it still! She watched him flush, and +bite his lip. She curtseyed. "But I have no interest in the Chevalier +de Guise, good my cousin, and I doubt he does not stand in need of my +help." + +He took her wrist and shook it. "You think you hoodwink me? You think I +do not know that fellow for what he is? Well, you shall see him burn!" + +She smiled disdainfully. "Shall I so? I think it is you, my cousin, who +will know yourself for a fool before many days are out. Loose my wrist. +You will get nothing by this usage." + +He left her, sought out his mother. He was in a fret, biting his nails; +he flew out upon her coolness, and was urgent with her to have the girl +away at once. + +Doña Beatrice regarded him blandly. She seemed amused by his agitation, +and set her finger at the root of it. "One would say, my dear Diego, +that you went in considerable fear of this Englishman." + +"I do not fear any man, señora, but this devil----" He crossed +himself. "There's witchcraft at work! You have not talked with Perinat. +He tells me--in league with the devil, señora! What, could he have come +otherwise into Spain, or sunk so many good ships of ours? We know El +Draque to employ evil arts, and this man was trained under him." + +"Witchcraft?" said Doña Beatrice. Her shoulders shook. "I wonder if his +arts will bring him off from that prison?" + +"You speak very lightly, señora. You cannot appreciate the dangers of +our situation. While that man is alive, and my cousin still a maid, we +may not know a moment's peace! At any time he might even be released! +Have you thought of that? Perinat has little credit; his word may +not serve against the fiend's papers. What, are we to have him loose +amongst us, and you'll sit smiling?" + +"I was never more in smiling humour," she remarked. "To see you so +disturbed, my son! I owe the pirate a debt of gratitude, it seems. And +you were within an ace of biting your glove in his face!" + +"And would do so still!" he said sharply. "Make no mistake, señora, if +he and I stand up together with a sword apiece I shall know what to +do. If I fear aught it is his wiles, his devilish cunning! A man may +not fight against witchcraft. Horrible sin! Deadly danger!" Again he +crossed himself. + +"Do you look to see him waft off Dominica in a cloud of smoke?" she +inquired. "I find you ridiculous, Don Diego." + +"Maybe, maybe. It is easy to sit contemptuous, señora, but you have had +no dealings with the man." + +"I have had some pretty traffic with him. He is a very bold rogue, +and I had ever a fondness for such men. Moreover"--her fan waved +rhythmically--"I like the merry look he has. A proper man, when all is +said. I shall be sorry if I hear he comes not off." + +"You will be sorry!" he ejaculated. "Oh, señora, will you lead my +cousin to him, and say 'God bless you, pirate, take my niece?'" + +"You are a fool to ask me," said his mother composedly. "I daresay I +am as much his enemy as you are, but I have this gift, my son, that I +can respect my foes. You may conjure up what nightmares of witchcraft +you please; I shall not be in a heat for that. I am sure the man would +laugh if he could hear you." + +He pounced on that. "Yes, señora, yes! And will you tell me that it is +not Satan who prompts him to laugh? Will you tell me that a mere man +laughs as this warlock does when he faces death, and sees the dead all +about him? Perinat could tell a tale!" + +"I make no doubt he could," agreed Doña Beatrice. "I pray I may not +have to hear him. I would stake my life all the magic this man uses +is the magic of courage, and the arts you and others such as you have +endowed him with. He takes a galleon: witchcraft! you cry. He sacks a +town: more witchcraft! He comes into Spain on an errand of romance: +foulest witchcraft of all! swear you. Well, I will tell you what I +think, and I believe I am not a fool. He is English, therefore a little +mad; he is a lover, therefore reckless. If he laughs it is because he +is of those sort of men who will laugh though they die for it. There is +all his magic." She yawned. "I dare say he will laugh as he goes to the +stake, as I fear he will go. You fatigue me, Don Diego, and put me out +of all patience with myself that I bore a fool." + +"Very well, señora," he said hotly, "It's very well! But will you take +my cousin into the country?" + +"Certainly," she said. + +"At once, señora, with what speed you can make!" + +She raised her eyelids momentarily. "I shall leave Madrid for Vasconosa +on Tuesday, as we have concerted, my son." + +"Folly!" he cried, and took a turn about the room. + +She lay back upon the day-bed, completely at her ease. "Do you think +so?" she said mildly. "Maybe I see more clearly. All Madrid knows that +I leave for Vasconosa on Tuesday. What do you suppose Madrid would +think if I was off in a sudden start? There is only one thing that can +make me put forward my departure, and that is the coming of Tobar. Pray +you go harry your father with these fears and spare me." She shut her +eyes as though she would go off into a doze. + +He checked, pondered it, and said grudgingly: "I had not thought of +that." + +"No," she said, not troubling to open her eyes. "You lack the habit of +thought, I believe. I wish you would leave me; you disturb my _siesta_ +to no purpose that I can see." + +"I pray you may not be disturbed by anything more disastrous than my +presence, señora!" he said. "You choose to sneer and think yourself +wiser than us all, but I will tell you this!--I shall warn my father if +that devil escapes from his prison he must send the King's men hot-foot +after him to Vasconosa!" + +"By all means," agreed the lady. "Go and warn him at once." + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + +Upon the morning following the strange arrest King Philip was disturbed +at his orisons by a secretary made over-bold by the amazing news. He +must needs, forgetful of time and place, blurt out to his master that +El Beauvallet was taken prisoner. King Philip made no sign at all, but +went on with his prayers. + +The secretary flushed scarlet and drew back. King Philip finished his +prayers and went his stately way to his cabinet. + +He sat down at his desk there, placed his gouty foot upon the velvet +stool, and pondered a document. A note was laboriously written in the +margin. King Philip laid down his quill and raised his hooded eyes to +the secretary. "You said something," he stated, and folded his hands +tranquilly before him. + +Vasquez, still discomposed, told the news baldly. "Sire, El Beauvallet +was captured at the house of Noveli last night!" + +Philip thought it over for a moment. "That is not possible," he said at +last. "Explain yourself." + +The tale came tumbling out then, garbled, of course, but sufficiently +arresting. Vasquez had it from Admiral Perinat that the Chevalier de +Guise was none other than El Beauvallet, the terrible pirate. The +Chevalier, then, was laid by the heels, and there were men in the +ante-chamber craving an audience with his Majesty. + +Philip blinked once, but seemed unmoved. "The Chevalier de Guise," +he said slowly. "His papers were in order," he announced heavily. He +looked calmly at Vasquez. "Does he admit it?" he inquired. + +"No, sire, I believe not. I believe--I am sure--he sent at once to +the French Ambassador to demand his protection. But Don Maxia de +Perinat----" + +Philip looked at his folded hands. "Perinat is a bungler," he said. +"One who blunders once may blunder twice. This seems to me a foolish +tale. I will see M. de Lauvinière." + +The French Ambassador came in a moment later, unhurriedly, and made +his bow. His countenance was a little troubled, but he made no haste +to come to his business. Compliments passed, an idle word on some +idle matter. At length Philip said: "You have come upon some urgent +business, señor. Let me hear it." + +The Ambassador bowed again. "I have come upon the strange business of +the arrest of the Chevalier de Guise, sire," he said, and paused as +though he hardly knew how to proceed. + +Philip waved one hand slightly. "Take your time, señor," he said +kindly. "I perceive that you are troubled. You may trust me with your +whole mind." + +This was to set the Ambassador at his ease. De Lauvinière, knowing the +King of old, inclined his head with a slightly ironic smile. The irony +went unnoticed. "Sire, the Chevalier has sent, as a subject of France, +to claim my protection," he said bluntly. "I am indeed troubled. I have +to understand that he has been arrested on suspicion of being no less a +person than Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, the sea-robber. My first impulse, +sire, was to laugh at a charge so absurd." + +Philip put his finger-tips together, and over them watched the +Ambassador. "Continue, señor." + +"The Chevalier, sire, very naturally denies this. His papers are in +order; I cannot find from anything that I hear that there is any other +proof to substantiate the charge than Don Maxia de Perinat's word. I +have seen Don Maxia, sire, and I must humbly confess that although he +speaks as a man altogether convinced, I cannot deem his conviction +to be sufficient evidence against the Chevalier. Moreover, sire, +it appears that a certain lady who was taken prisoner by this same +Beauvallet not so many months ago utterly denies that this man is he." + +"I had not supposed it possible, señor, that El Beauvallet could be in +Spain," said Philip calmly. "You come to request his release." + +The Ambassador hesitated. "Sire, this is a very strange, a very +difficult matter," he said. "It is no part of my desire to act hastily +in it." + +"Rest assured, señor, we shall do nothing without careful +consideration," Philip said. "Do you identify the Chevalier?" + +Again there was a momentary hesitation. "I cannot do that, sire. I am +not over-familiar with the members of the house of Guise; I have never, +to my knowledge, met this man. But from what I know of the family I did +from the first moment of seeing him suspect that this man might not be +what he claimed to be. It is in my mind that the Chevalier de Guise +should be a younger man than this, nor can I trace any resemblance to +the Guises in his countenance." + +Philip weighed that. "It might thus chance, señor," he said. + +"Certainly, sire. I may well be mistaken. But upon my first meeting +with him I wrote into France to discover more of him. The answer to +my letter must be awaited before I can state whether this man is the +Chevalier or whether he is not. I have come here to-day, sire, to +request you, very humbly, to be patient a few weeks, to hold your hand, +in effect, until I receive the answer to my letter." + +Philip nodded slowly. "We shall do nothing unadvisedly," he said. "We +must think on this. You shall hear more of our decision, señor. Be sure +we should be loth to proceed against a subject of our cousin of France." + +"I have to thank your Majesty for your courtesy," de Lauvinière said, +and bowed over the King's cold hand. He was ushered out of the cabinet, +and passed through the ante-chamber without delay. Perinat tried to +stop him, and shot an eager question, but de Lauvinière answered +evasively, and passed on. + +The King would not see Don Maxia de Perinat. "It does not need for us +to listen to Don Maxia," he said coldly. "He will make his deposition +to the Alcalde at a later time. We will give audience to Don Cristobal +de Porres." + +Don Cristobal, commander of the Guards of Castile, Governor of the +great barracks where Beauvallet was imprisoned, was awaiting the King's +pleasure in the anteroom. He was a man of some forty years of age, dark +and tall, with a grave countenance and a thin mouth half concealed by +his black mustachio and the pointed beard he wore. He came in very +promptly, and stood just inside the door, deeply bowing. "Sire!" + +"We have sent for you, señor, to inquire into this matter of your +prisoner. I do not immediately understand why the _ginetes_ were called +in." + +"The Casa Noveli, sire, is hard by the barracks," Porres answered. +"A gentleman came in hot haste with the news that El Beauvallet +was captured, and my lieutenant, Cruza, perhaps acted without due +reflection. I have held the man in ward against the hearing of your +Majesty's pleasure." + +Philip seemed to be satisfied, for he said nothing for a moment or two, +but gazed with apparent abstraction before him. Presently he brought +his eyes back to Porres' face, and spoke abruptly. "Let search be made +in his baggage," he said. "We shall require you to keep the Chevalier +under surveillance, Don Cristobal, until such time as we make known +our further pleasure. If he travels with a servant----" he paused. "It +might be well to interrogate the man." + +"Sire----!" + +Philip waited. + +"It was judged expedient, sire, to send early this morning to the inn +where the Chevalier lodged. I do not know sire, if this was agreeable +to your Majesty, but in consideration--the charge was of such a +nature--there was a fear----" + +"Compose yourself, señor." + +"In short, sire, acting a little on Don Maxia de Perinat's advice, I +caused search to be made through the Chevalier's effects, and sent +to apprehend the servant, deeming it a measure your Majesty would +approve." + +"You acted precipitately," said Philip. "These things are not done +without good advice. Continue." + +"I ask your Majesty's pardon if I did wrongly. When my men came to the +inn they found the--the Chevalier's baggage strewn about, his chests +and strong box broken open and empty. His money was gone, his jewels, a +sword of Ferrara make, the best of his dress--in short, sire, a seeming +robbery, committed by the servant, who had fled." + +"Who had fled," repeated the King. "But continue, señor." + +"This we thought a suspicious circumstance, sire, but upon question +the tapster at the inn confessed to having had speech with the servant +last night, when he was evidently making his escape. The man says that +he was something merry in his bearing, talked of his good fortune, and +said that if his master was laid by the heels it was a good riddance to +him, and he was not one to be slow to catch at opportunity." + +"Possible! Possible!" said Philip. "Yet this might well be a ruse. We +have to consider all points, Don Cristobal. What said the Chevalier?" + +Don Cristobal smiled rather ruefully. "The Chevalier, sire, exhibited a +very natural anger, and--in fact, sire, he demands--he is high in his +tone--that strict search should be made for the fellow. He would have +us send after the man to the Frontier, for he is left penniless. The +Chevalier, sire, was particularly enraged at the loss of his sword. He +started up, sire, and demanded to know whether the servant had made off +with this piece, and upon being told that it was not to be found, he +seemed like to fly into a very real passion. The next thing he asked, +sire, was whether his papers, too, were gone, and it seemed to me--I +was watching him closely--that he showed great relief when I could +assure him that they were safe." + +"Ah, the papers were left?" Philip asked. + +"They were discovered, sire, in the inner pocket of a mandilion. I +judged that the man had overlooked them in his haste. A wallet was +found on the floor with a few odd bills in it, but nothing more. The +Chevalier's linen was overturned as though the servant had sought +amongst it for something, and we found sundry other articles of +raiment." + +"Let these be taken to the Chevalier," said Philip. "This is a delicate +matter, señor, needing our careful judgment." + +There was the sound of a softly opened door behind him. A man came into +the room from some inner room behind Philip, a man in a priest's gown. +Philip's thin lips parted in a smile that showed teeth that were yellow +and rather pointed. "You are come opportunely, Father." + +The priest had gone unobtrusively to the window, but he turned at +Philip's words, and came nearer to the King's chair. He was Father +Allen, an English Jesuit, never far from Philip's side. "You have need +of me, sire?" + +"I may have need of you, Father," Philip answered cautiously. "There +is a man held in ward, Father, who is accused of being the freebooter, +Beauvallet." + +"I have heard something of this, sire, from Frey Luis." + +"Do you know this Beauvallet, Father?" asked Philip directly. + +"I regret, sire, no. I knew his father by sight, but the sons by +hearsay only." + +"A pity." Philip's smile died. He regarded the opposite wall for a +while. "I do not see what El Beauvallet does in Spain," he said, and +awaited enlightenment. + +It came from Porres. "The tale is very strange, sire, almost +incredible. It is said--by the lady's cousin--that El Beauvallet came +into Spain to carry off Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva." + +Philip looked at him. It was plain that such a mad exploit was beyond +his Catholic Majesty's comprehension. + +Father Allen spoke from behind the King's chair. "Beauvallet had no +need to come into Spain if that had been his purpose." + +Philip nodded. "That is true. This is a very foolish tale," he said. +"Moreover, it is impossible for such a man as El Beauvallet to enter +into Spain." + +"As to that, sire"--Father Allen lifted his shoulders--"there might be +ways of compassing it, if the man were bold enough." + +A new voice spoke from the door behind Philip. "A man in league with +the powers of darkness could do it." A monk of the Dominican order had +come in quietly. His cowl partly shaded his face, but his eyes shone +dark and intense. He came further into the room. "I have thought on +this, sire." He sighed heavily. "Who can say what such a man might do?" + +The faintest hint of a contemptuous smile flitted across Father Allen's +lips, but he said nothing. + +"Consider, sire, what dreadful errand this man may have come upon," +insisted Frey Luis in a hushed voice. + +Philip brought his gaze round to the Frey. "What errand?" he asked, +puzzled. + +"Sire, how shall we say that El Beauvallet would hesitate to seek the +life of even your Majesty?" Frey Luis folded his hands in the wide +sleeves of his habit and fixed his eyes on Philip. + +Philip moved a paper on his desk. His brain turned this over and +detected a flaw. "If such were his errand, Frey Luis, he would have +made the attempt when I saw him in this room with only yourself +present," he said. + +"Sire, who knows in what cunning ways Satan goes to work?" + +Don Cristobal interposed. "I do not think that this man is such a one, +sire. I could more readily believe, from what I have seen of the man, +in Don Diego de Carvalho's explanation." + +But King Philip was not at all inclined to believe in it. His +matter-of-fact mind discarded it as the wildest of suppositions. "A +test might be made," he mused. "A simple Mass, perhaps." + +Don Cristobal coughed. The dull eyes travelled to his face. "You were +about to say, señor?" + +"The Chevalier, sire, has made the suggestion himself." + +Philip looked at the Jesuit. Father Allen spoke smoothly. "That is +clever of him," he said. "But you should know, sire, that it is not so +long since the Beauvallets were of the True Faith. It is almost sure +that this man would pass such a test triumphantly." + +Frey Luis spoke again. "There are tests the Holy Inquisition would +impose that would be harder to pass. We have to think of the soul, +sire. Let this man be given over to the infinite compassion of the +Church." + +Philip laid his hand on the table. "A heretic of any nation, Frey +Luis, belongs to the Church. I am not so undutiful a son of Christ +as to withhold from the Church any heretic, be he a notorious pirate +or a peaceable burgher," he said austerely. "As an enemy to Spain El +Beauvallet should be judged by the secular arm, but I have to think of +the soul, which must be saved at all costs. The Church demands him." + +"Your Majesty is a faithful son of the Church," Father Allen said. +"That is well known. Humbly I would suggest, sire, that the charge of +heresy be strictly followed up." + +There was a short silence. Don Cristobal stood patiently waiting by the +curtain that hung over the doorway. The King's eyes were veiled; he +seemed to brood, like some sated vulture. What thoughts passed in that +tortuous mind even Father Allen could not guess. + +"There is as yet no suspicion of heresy," the King said at last. "We +must remember, Father, that we have to deal with a subject of France." + +Father Allen bowed his head and stood back. The matter was plain enough +now. Philip had no wish to offend the French King upon so trivial a +matter, nor did he want his own secret dealings with the Guises to +be made public. He would not run the risk of the Chevalier de Guise +disclosing these dealings, Father Allen knew well. + +Frey Luis, no Jesuit, but a priest with one single aim, one obsession, +did not read the King's mind so acutely, nor, had he been able to +appreciate Philip's difficulty, would it have weighed with him. +His faith was simple, and burned like a consuming flame; earthly +considerations he would never consider. "The Inquisition claims him," +he said, "There may yet be time to rescue his soul from the depths to +which it has sunk." + +The King gave only half an ear to this. "We gain nothing by haste," he +said. "You assume, Frey Luis, that this man is indeed El Beauvallet. I +am not so easily satisfied. I have listened to wild tales; they do not +convince me." + +"The Holy Inquisition, sire, is tender above all things and infinitely +just," said Frey Luis earnestly. "It does not leap to conclusions, and +there can be nothing to be feared at its hands by a true son of Christ. +If this man be the Chevalier he could raise no objection to appearing +before a tribunal appointed to sift him." + +Philip listened in silence. "True," he said meditatively, "There could +be no objection. A son of the Church would not flinch from such a +test." He paused and frowned. Much was revealed in such tests, he knew +very well; perhaps more in this instance might be forthcoming than +would be agreeable to his Catholic Majesty. The King saw clearly that +this was yet another case that went to prove the truth of his maxim +that nothing should be attempted without mature reflection. His frown +cleared. He repeated his former observation. "We gain nothing by undue +haste. If the man is proved not to be the Chevalier de Guise, I shall +know how to act. Until such time as I shall receive intelligence from +M. de Lauvinière, the Chevalier shall be kept in ward." He turned to +Porres. "This will be your charge, señor. You will treat the Chevalier +with all consideration, but let him be kept in guard." The frown +returned. "He must be used with strict courtesy," he said slowly. "He +will appreciate the grave difficulties of our situation. But we would +not have him in the least degree rudely entreated." + +Don Cristobal was a little puzzled. "Pardon, sire, is he to be a +prisoner, or may he go abroad?" + +Such bluntness was little to Philip's taste. His frown deepened. Father +Allen interposed. "Sire, if this man should be Beauvallet you cannot +guard him too securely." + +"True," the King said. "We have to think of the safety of our realm. +You have some apartment, señor, in which he might be safely bestowed? +Some room from which no exit is possible? We do not speak of prison +cells." + +"Yes, sire, he is in such a room now, pending your pleasure." + +"There is no need to put indignity upon one who may well be proved +innocent of the charge proffered against him," Philip said. "A lock +should suffice, and a sentry outside. You will see to it, señor. We +shall hold you responsible for the Chevalier's safety and well-being. +You will remark his bearing, and report to us the least sign of an +attempt to escape." + +Don Cristobal bowed. "I shall obey your Majesty in all my best," he +said, and bowed himself out of the closet. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + +No word came from the Alcazar to summon Dominica to answer an +examination. Don Rodriguez, uneasily awaiting such a summons, brought +back word first that the Chevalier was to be held in ward pending the +arrival of word from France; second, that his Majesty had spoken no +word concerning Doña Dominica; and thirdly, that Don Miguel de Tobar +had started for Madrid sooner than had been expected, and was likely to +arrive within the next few days. + +Doña Beatrice was unwillingly roused to action. Sighing over it, she +said that it was all very fatiguing, and not a little tiresome, but if +suspicion did not rest on Doña Dominica there was no reason why they +should not leave Madrid upon Saturday. + +Dominica heard this with dismay. God knows what she hoped for by +remaining in the capital; she hardly knew herself, but to journey +north so many leagues out of sight or sound of Madrid filled her with +despair. To stay could do Beauvallet no good. True enough, but how +could one go, knowing him to be in such danger? + +She said never a word, but bowed her head slightly and tried to look +indifferent. She was far from that ideal state. While she was borne off +north God alone knew what might be done to Beauvallet. She had heard +that those who fell into the clutch of the Inquisition were sometimes +never heard of again. She fell to trembling and to silent prayer. Her +own fate seemed no longer to be a matter of moment. Listlessly she +observed a certain quiet satisfaction in her cousin's demeanour which +she supposed could betoken no good, but it seemed no longer to signify. +If Beauvallet died they might do with her as they would. + +Don Diego left Madrid a day ahead of his mother and cousin. Dominica +heard of his plans without change of countenance, but his mother +drawled: "You do not ride with us?" + +He answered very easily that he would go before to have all in +readiness against their coming to Vasconosa. He could not but think +that the Carvalho guards would be protection enough for their equipage. + +Doña Beatrice looked at him with narrowed eyes, seemed to consider him, +but said only: "You are not very gallant, my son." + +His departure was watched by one of whom he knew nothing. Joshua, +anxious to get speech with Dominica, haunted the vicinity of the Casa +Carvalho, and saw Don Diego set forward that Friday with his valet and +two lackeys with led sumpters. Joshua's sharp nose smelled mischief. He +lounged against the sun-baked wall and picked his teeth, but his ears +were on the prick and his eyes sharp beneath the slouching brim of his +hat. A chance word let fall by one of the lackeys strapping a pack to +the sumpter disclosed their destination. There was little need of it; +Joshua had been in small doubt. He watched Don Diego mount and gather +up the reins; heard him admonish the lackeys to press forward at speed; +and saw him ride off. Joshua drew his own conclusions. + +"Ay, go swiftly, villain!" he apostrophised Don Diego. "Waste no time, +for you will have Mad Nick behind you, never doubt it! Cullion and +coystrill! Oh, an eater of broken meats, a very pungent rascal! It +would do one's heart good to slit the villain's nose. I shall suggest +it to my master in due course." He heaved a sigh. "Master, as I see it, +you would do well to break out of ward swiftly. Here's roguery afoot. +If I can but get speech with my lady, and know what they will be about! +A plague on all women!" + +An hour of patient loitering rewarded him. Dominica at last appeared, +accompanied by her maid, and bound, as Joshua had hoped she might be, +to hear Mass at a neighbouring Church. She cast a passing look at him +where he lounged, but it was unrecognising. As well it might be, for +there was little trace of swaggering Joshua in the sober, clean-shaved +personage she saw. He wore a buffin gown as might some needy clerk; +gone were the ambitious mustachios, gone the beard that Sir Nicholas +was wont to call his _pique de vent_, gone, too, the strutting +carriage. A meek individual followed my lady at a discreet distance to +Church. + +She chose an unoccupied bench at the back of the Church. Joshua waited +until old Carmelita was bowed over her rosary, devout and unseeing, +then slid on to the bench and edged gradually closer to my lady. + +Her eyes were open, looking straight before her. She became aware +of Joshua and turned her head. She was inclined to be angry at his +encroachment: that he saw by the spark in her eyes. He looked fully at +her, laid a finger to his lips and beckoned her surreptitiously nearer. + +She did not know him; she stiffened; her look should have abashed +him. He was at a loss; he dared not move nearer to her lest the maid +should be roused from her devotions, or the lady withdraw. He looked +imploringly, and she turned her shoulder. A hasty glance round him +showed him only a few people busy at their prayers. He bent his head +and whispered: "Lady, _Reck Not_!" + +His quick eyes peeped up at her; she had heard; she was looking keenly +at him now. Again he made that little beckoning movement. She let fall +her missal, bent to pick it up, and in the doing of it shifted her +position till she was close beside him. + +He pretended to mumble prayers, telling over the beads of a rosary. +"Lady, you do not know me. I am Joshua Dimmock. My beard is off. What +of that? Caution! Caution!" + +She stole a glance at him, met the upward flash of his shrewd grey +eyes. Recognition sprang into her own. She bent her head and put her +clasped hands up to hide her face. "You! Oh, what do you know?" + +"He is in ward. Courage, señorita! I am here to discover what plans are +laid for you. Does Tuesday hold good yet?" + +"Saturday," she whispered back. "To-morrow. He sent you? You have +contrived to get speech with him?" + +"Nay. Be of good heart, lady, and keep faith. He will break free yet." + +She gave a long sigh. "I have led him to his death." + +Privately Joshua was in complete agreement with her. "It was +noticeable," he said later, "that she seemed to have little idea of +having led me thitherwards. But I let that pass." + +For all his secret convictions, vicarious dignity would not permit him +to let the lady think that she had had any hand in this escapade. His +answering whisper contained some austerity. "I have yet to learn, +señorita, that my master is led by aught save his own inclination. Let +it go. I am avised of your movements; it but remains for me to get +speech with Sir Nicholas." + +Her eyes flickered to his face. "Is it so easy? Can you do it?" + +"It will not be easy," said Joshua severely, "but certainly I shall do +it. Be of good cheer; trust me, and trust my master. No more of this. +Dangerous dealing!" He edged away along the bench, and she was left to +her seeming prayers. + +She was oddly comforted by this talk with Joshua. He spoke with an +assurance he was far from feeling, but she was not to know that. She +might doubt still, but she now had hope, for if Joshua, who knew +Beauvallet so well, could be sanguine, she too, might expect a happy +issue. + +He was not perhaps so sanguine as he chose to appear, but for the +timorous man he declared himself to be, he was very cool. A squalid +tavern in the meaner part of the city now housed him; if he could but +get a sight of his master he would have only one regret, and this the +loss of his brave mustachios. + +"Alack!" he told himself mournfully. "I who was, I believe, a +personable man, now look like some starveling scrivener." He spat +into the kennel. "So much for that. It boots not to bewail my lost +mustachios; they are very decently interred. The loss of a fair beard +I can better support: one may call it a fortune of war. But the +mustachios are another and more serious affair. Something of the cock +of Beauvallet's own, I apprehend. I wore them with a good grace. A +plague on all shaven lips! But this is to talk more and no more. I +do not repine." He walked on towards his lodging. "Now what, I must +ask myself? Do you come out of that stronghold, master? Nay, we must +admit it to be an impossibility." He threw out his chest and strutted +a little. "Ha! A word we do not know. We maybe have some few wiles +left that they may still blear the eyes of these Spanish dawcocks." +He abated his pace and abandoned the swagger. "Yet I own myself to be +very pigeon-livered in this matter. You may say I had his word he would +escape if he were taken. Maybe we brag a little--a very little." He +shook his head slightly. "Master, if I knew of a way--but I make no +doubt a way will present itself to me. I must lie close, as I am bid, +and keep good watch. To do else might be to o'erset deep laid schemes. +Courage, Joshua!" + +The question of Dominica's departure next occupied his busy mind. He +scented mischief there, bristled at it like a dog, and shook his fist +at an imaginary Don Diego. "Mark me well, we will carbonado you finely +yet, Master Hemp-Seed! Sir Nicholas, you would do well to let your +guards taste of your mettle at once, for I mislike the complexion of +this whole matter. Let us consider. How long might a coach take to +reach Vasconosa? The roads are bad. True, but we have had no rain, and +there will be no mud for the coach to founder in. They are to change +horses, as I learn, at every stage. Ten days, maybe, swift going. For +a man riding hard, as we might ride? Ah, that is another and very +different affair." His pace quickened. "There is the question of +horses. We must go privily to work and discover at what stages one can +buy nags upon the road. The plague is on it, I have had to abandon Sir +Nicholas' fine mare. Now, if Sir Nicholas were to appear of a sudden, +as I believe he may do? What will be his cry? Horses, Joshua! True. And +how shall we answer? Certain, it is meet that I lay out some money on a +couple of good nags to be in readiness. Ah, what it is to have a head! +Master, if I but knew where you lie, and how they use you!" + +He would perhaps have been comforted had he known that Sir Nicholas lay +in a very fair apartment, and was most courteously used. He might have +all he wanted for the mere asking. + +Don Cristobal came to visit him each day, and was at pains to be +polite. It was from him that Sir Nicholas learned of the messenger sent +off to France to inquire more particularly into his identity. When he +heard that he gave an irrepressible laugh. Certain, the net was closing +in. Don Cristobal understood the laugh to imply no more than a scornful +amusement, and did not wonder at it. His attitude throughout was of +painstaking civility. The difficulties of his position were felt keenly +by him, and he was anxious that--in the event of the Chevalier coming +off triumphant--his prisoner would have no cause to complain of his +treatment in ward. + +He had many talks with the Chevalier, and the more he saw of him the +more convinced he became that Perinat had made some ridiculous mistake. +Don Cristobal could not conceive that a man who knew himself to be +in such danger could wear so care-free a countenance, or could crack +light-hearted jests at every turn. Some signs of unease there must +surely have been had the man been El Beauvallet indeed. He ventured +upon one occasion to hope that all would go well for the Chevalier, and +hinted at the Inquisition, watching Beauvallet keenly as he spoke. + +He got nothing by that. The black brows flew up in a kind of artless +surprise; the smile only grew the more amused. "_Sangdieu!_" said +Beauvallet in mock alarm. "I hope so, too!" + +It was very evident that he had no doubts about it. Don Cristobal felt +that he had passed another test satisfactorily. + +The Chevalier soon requested that he might be allowed some exercise. +Don Cristobal had to admit this to be a reasonable desire, and made +arrangements to grant it. Beauvallet was permitted the indulgence of +walking in the courtyard for an hour each day, closely attended by the +two guards who waited on him. + +There was more to this request than a mere desire for exercise. +Sir Nicholas, hurried to the barracks at night, had as yet had no +opportunity to take in his surroundings. To walk in the court would +give him a chance to get a plan of the building in his mind, which was +necessary to a man whose brain was busy all the time with schemes for +escape. + +He knew already, from a glance out of his chamber window, that his +prison was upon the first floor. His window overlooked a quiet street +that was flanked on the opposite side by a blank wall. He wasted very +little time here. Even if the bars across the window had been weak +enough to pull out, the room was too high above the ground for a man to +attempt the drop. Escape did not lie that way. + +When his guards came to escort him out to the court he found that his +room gave on to a stone corridor, or cloister, with tall open arches +overlooking a paved courtyard. The barracks seemed to enclose this +court in a square, and as far as Beauvallet could see the corridor ran +right round, with doors opening off it upon the inner side. A quick +glance up and down as soon as he came out of his room discovered a +spiral stairway to the left, set in the width of the wall where the +corridor turned at right-angles to run along the south side of the +court. + +The guards directed Beauvallet away from this stair, and went with him +down the long corridor to the further corner, and round on to the north +side. Sir Nicholas judged the length of the corridor to be as near +ninety or a hundred feet as made no odds. On the north side was a large +stairway, evidently the principle stair in the building, coming up from +the arched gateway to the soldiers' quarters. + +They went down it, and Sir Nicholas found himself in the open +courtyard, with the sun beating down upon him. To the north an arch led +to the street. There were sentries on guard there. To one side of this +arch was the stairway down which he had come; to the other was a closed +door. + +They paced slowly round the court. The ground floor owned just such +another corridor as was found on the floor above. There was another +storey, Sir Nicholas ascertained, but the corridor was enclosed here, +and had windows set, perhaps, eight feet apart all round the square, +each with its little semi-circular balcony, so typical of the Spanish +house. Above was the flat roof and the chimney-stacks. + +Sir Nicholas continued his promenade between the two guards, and +chatted amiably with them, as his custom was. They had eyed him in +round-eyed wonder at first, and had been suspicious of him, seeing +under his gay exterior a very dreadful pirate, but those feelings had +not lasted long. It was the opinion of the guards that the pleasant +gentleman was being wrongfully imprisoned. He never gave the least sign +of a wish to escape, was merry in his talk, and, in their eyes, was too +much the gentleman to be an English sea-robber. They were quite willing +to talk to him, and saw no harm in his questions. He displayed a casual +interest in the Guards of Castile, and was surprised to hear how many +of them were gathered in this place. However, it was no wonder, he +supposed, and looked round him appreciatively. "I dare swear you might +house an hundred more in a place this size." + +"Why, señor, if it comes to the pinch, more than that," one of the +soldiers told him, "There are rooms up aloft"--he nodded towards the +second storey--"that stand as bare as my hand." + +The other man was inclined to cavil at this. "Not many more," he said. +"There are the stables, and there have to be rooms set aside for +stores. The place is not so big as would seem, señor. Why, the armoury +alone, over yonder, takes up a great space, and no men housed there, +and you have the guard-room as well upon this level." + +"But you might surely house an hundred upon one side of the building +alone," objected Sir Nicholas. "Four sides--nay, I forget: the gateway +takes away from one side. Three sides, then, all fit to house an +hundred men." + +"Nay, nay, there are the Governor's quarters to consider," said the +guard. + +"Ah, of course!" said Sir Nicholas blandly. "I had forgot that he lived +here." He looked rueful. "I give him joy of it. For my part, I find it +a dreary place." + +"Well, señor, you are unfortunate," he was told. "The Governor does +well enough, with a very pretty garden to walk in and a score of fine +rooms, I warrant you." + +Sir Nicholas began to talk of something else. The disposition of the +Governor's quarters and the whereabouts of his garden was all he +wanted to know now, and he would go his own way to work about that. He +complained of the scorching sun, and brought his walk to an end. When +Don Cristobal came to visit him later in the day, and inquired whether +he had taken his exercise, Sir Nicholas thanked him, but believed that +for the future he must confine his walks to the corridor. + +"I find it rather too sunny, señor. Heyday! I would M. de Lauvinière's +messenger might bestir himself a little." He observed Don Cristobal's +troubled look, and smiled. "Nay, do not look so worried, señor. I must +be content with the corridor, and this grim incarceration cannot last +for many weeks." + +"Why, Chevalier, I should be loth--certainly the sun beats down very +hotly. I do not think there could be any objection to your walking in +my garden for a space every day. I will arrange for it." + +"But this is too kind, señor! Indeed, I shall take no hurt in the +corridor. I should not like to trespass into your garden," Beauvallet +said. + +"No trespass, señor. Consider it agreed upon. I am held responsible for +your well-being, and I am assured his Majesty is anxious to make this +unfortunate time as pleasant for you as maybe. Is there aught else I +may do for you?" + +Beauvallet seemed to consider. He drew some coins from his pocket, and +looked at them with a grimace. "Lay that fellow of mine by the heels, +señor, and I shall be much your debtor. But I believe I have enough +to buy me some few things. Of your kindness, señor, some book to help +while away the time. I do not know whether I am permitted to write to +my friends?" + +Don Cristobal hesitated, "With the greatest reluctance, señor, I should +feel myself bound to glance at any messages you may wish to send out of +this place." + +"Oh, you may read all my papers with my very goodwill," Sir Nicholas +told him. + +"I will send you some ink, then, and paper," Don Cristobal promised, +and withdrew. + +Upon the following morning Beauvallet was escorted to the Governor's +quarters, by the stairway he had gone down the day before, and through +the door he had noticed on the opposite side of the arched gateway. +This led into a large hall, furnished very richly with fine hangings +and chairs of Italian _intarsia_ work. Across the hall a door gave on +to a walled garden, shaded by trees, and through this they went. + +Beyond the wall Sir Nicholas judged that there was a street as on his +opposite side of the building. The wall was high, but rough upon the +inner side, with one or two espaliers trained up it. If a man had the +help of a rope he might make shift to scale that wall; at a pinch he +might make the attempt without assistance, but with indifferent hope of +success. There seemed to be no other way into the garden than through +this one door. + +Sir Nicholas studied the outside of the building closely. Here were +no barred windows, and the side of the house was grown over with a +thick wisteria. A man penetrating into one of the upper rooms on this +side of the building might climb down the wall by the aid of that +wistaria--if it held. So much Sir Nicholas decided; it was little +enough. He went back presently to his prison and sat down by the window +to write an innocent letter to his Andalusian acquaintance. + +It might have been noticed that the Chevalier nearly always sat by the +window, and very often stood looking out on to the street. His guards +made nothing of that. There was little enough to see in the street, +but the poor gentleman had nothing else to interest him, to be sure, +until the Governor sent him a selection of books to read. Even then a +gentleman cannot be reading all the day. + +Sir Nicholas, watching the street below, did not at first recognize his +swaggering servant in the clean-shaven, demure individual who strolled +slowly along on the opposite side of the road. But his attention was +held by the apparently idle glances this clerk-like person cast up at +the barracks as he came, and he knitted his brows a little. + +Joshua was opposite his window now, and again looked up. The puzzled +frown vanished from Beauvallet's face; he lifted his hand, and Joshua +saw him. + +Joshua cast a glance behind him. There was no one in sight. He stood +still, showing a joyful countenance. Sir Nicholas passed a hand over +his beard, caressed his mustachio tips, and affected an intense grief. +But his shoulders shook. + +"Ho!" said Joshua softly. "This is pretty treatment, God wot! Nay, +then, master, have done! Is this the time to make merry? It sorteth +to no good at all. God be thanked you are safe, and in spirits, as +it would seem! What, will you be fleering still?" He shook his head +severely. "I may say you are incorrigible. Now I must tell you some +few things. And how?" He saw a man turn down the corner of the street, +and bent as though to take a stone from his shoe. After that he walked +on until the man had rounded the corner, and then came swiftly back. +It would not do to shout to Sir Nicholas, that was certain. He put his +head on one side and debated. The street was still empty when he came +opposite to Beauvallet's window again, and he began to indulge in a +piece of pantomime for his master's benefit. Don Diego was portrayed by +a mincing step, a sniffing at an imaginary flower, and a flourishing +bow. Sir Nicholas grinned and nodded. Joshua made believe then to throw +himself upon a horse, and to ride off at full speed. + +The play ended he looked up inquiringly. Sir Nicholas was frowning. +He drew a large V in the air, and cocked up an eyebrow. Joshua nodded +vigorously, and made beckoning signs as though to bid his master make +haste. + +That Sir Nicholas understood more or less what he meant to convey was +easy to see. He signed to Joshua to go, and himself fell to pacing the +floor of his room. + +If Dominica had gone already to Vasconosa, as Joshua's play would seem +to indicate, with Don Diego hard on her heels, it looked as though +there was mischief brewing. Sir Nicholas had been content to lie in his +prison till Tuesday, or even later, for there was nothing to be gained +by breaking free while Dominica still lay at Madrid. On the contrary, +there was all to be lost. Once out of prison he must lose no time in +getting out of Spain; there would be no time then for waiting upon his +lady's movements. But this new development changed the complexion of +the affair. Sir Nicholas sat down on the edge of his bed and began +thoughtfully to finger his beard. "'Ware Beauvallet, if you see him at +that trick!" would have said Joshua Dimmock. But the Guards of Castile +were not so familiar with Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's ways. + +His brain began to shape plans, twisting and scheming. If he failed in +his attempt he must stand self-convicted as El Beauvallet. He knew what +to expect then. He shrugged his shoulders and lifted his pomander to +his nose. + +Sniffing at it he evolved his plan. It was sufficiently desperate +to appeal to that lively sense of humour in him. "Come, Nick!" he +apostrophised himself. "Let us take _Reck Not_ for our watchword yet +once again. It has not been known to fail us yet. But I am sorry for +that sentry." + +By which it may be seen that Sir Nicholas counted the sentry outside +his door a dead man already. + +He moved to the table, and wrote three lines to Joshua. They were quite +simple. + +"_Be ready to-morrow evening with a rope outside the wall on the +opposite side of the building to this. When you hear my whistle, cast +it across and hold tightly._" + +This he twisted into a screw and put away in his bosom. Upon the +following morning Joshua walked down the street again. The screw of +paper went fluttering down from Beauvallet's window, and was swiftly +pounced on. + +Joshua went back to his tavern strutting light-heartedly. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + +Ever since the first day of his imprisonment Sir Nicholas had been +waited on always by two men. Never one came without the other, and +although, gradually, this precaution had become little more than a form +it was still observed. Sir Nicholas pulled a wry face over it. Truly +they held him to be a desperate man since they kept a sentry outside +his room, and dared not send a single armed man to take his meals to +him. Well, they were right, but he thought he had successfully lulled +their fears. For his escape to have the smallest chance of success one +of those men must be got out of the room. All hung on that; if one man +could not be induced to leave the room torture and the fire awaited Sir +Nicholas, as he very well knew. + +He had chosen his time carefully, and knew that he could trust +Joshua to do his part. Every evening at dusk supper was brought to +Sir Nicholas from the Governor's kitchens. The cook was at pains to +please the unwilling guest, for there was still enough money left in +Beauvallet's pockets to provide a sufficient incentive. The cook, +receiving a double ducat, sent with a compliment, vowed the Chevalier +was a true gentleman, and devised subtleties for his delectation. + +Upon the day chosen by Sir Nicholas for his attempt at escape, his +two gaolers came a little late with his supper. One of them, the +senior, had charge of the key of his room, and always locked the door +punctiliously upon the inside when he entered, and continued to hold +the key in his hand while his fellow set covers on the table and lit +the candles. + +Sir Nicholas had a high-backed chair with arms and a velvet seat to sit +in, but he was not sitting in it when the two soldiers entered. He was +standing near the window, leaning his shoulders against the wall, and +whistling a cheerful tune to himself. + +"I thought I was to be starved," he remarked, and came lounging over to +the table and sat himself down on the arm of his chair, idly swinging +one foot. + +The chief gaoler smiled indulgently. "No, no, señor. It is only that +the cook spoiled one of the dishes--or rather, I should say, that one +of the scullions, left to stir it, let it burn a little--and the whole +had to be made again." + +The other man was busy shaking out a cloth and spreading it over the +table. Sir Nicholas sniffed the air. "Well, it hath a very savoury +odour," he said. "Let us see the _chef d'œuvre_." + +The knife was set, a bottle of wine placed carefully beside the cup at +Beauvallet's elbow, and a shining cover lifted with a flourish. + +"Marvellous!" said Sir Nicholas. He still sat negligently on the arm of +his chair, sideways to the table. "Present my compliments to the cook." +He stretched out his hand for the bottle, while the soldier took salt +and pepper from the tray he had brought, and put them on the table. He +poured out a cupful of the wine, and raised it with a little laugh. +"Tell the cook I drink his very good health!" he said, and made as if +to toss off the wine. But that fine gesture was stayed before he had +done more than taste it. The cup left his lips; he pulled a grimace. +"My very dear friends!" he said. "What's this? Do you seek to poison +me? What have you brought me here?" + +The soldiers stared at him. "_Madre de Dios_, señor, there is no +thought of poisoning you!" said one of them, shocked. + +Sir Nicholas smiled. "I did but jest. But you have brought me a very +vile potion, none the less. Let me have another bottle, my good fellow. +Take this away." + +The chief frowned upon his subordinate, shifting the blame from off his +own shoulders. "Dolt! Take up the bottle! What, do you bring the señor +bad wine? Pardon, señor! an oversight. The cup, fool! take away the cup +and bring a clean one back!" He hustled his protesting fellow towards +the door. + +"It was you chose the wine," grumbled the unfortunate. + +"You confused the bottles," the other said hastily. "Get you gone, get +you gone! Will you have the señor's supper grow cold?" + +"You have the key," his subordinate pointed out. "I did not confuse the +bottles, I tell you. You yourself----" + +"A'God's mercy, have done!" struck in Sir Nicholas curtly. "I care not +who made the mistake so long as you bring me a fresh bottle." + +"On the instant, señor!" his gaoler assured him, responding +instinctively to the voice of authority. He unlocked the door, pushed +the wine-bearer out, and slammed the door again behind him, once more +locking it. + +Sir Nicholas' lashes drooped over his eyes, hiding the sudden gleam in +them. The departing soldier had not taken the key with him. "Put the +cover over this very choice dish again, my man," said Sir Nicholas. + +"Certainly, señor!" The man picked it up and came all unsuspecting to +the table. + +Sir Nicholas' hand had left playing with his pomander; his foot had +stopped its gentle swinging, and the toe of it was firm-planted on the +floor. The soldier bent to put the cover over the dish on the table. + +Even as his hand left the cover, and he was about to step back, Sir +Nicholas made his spring, a clean, lithe spring, noiseless and sure. +Before the soldier realized what had happened a pair of iron hands were +choking him into insensibility, and he was half-flung, half-lifted +backwards on to the bed behind him. Sir Nicholas' knee was over his +dagger; he could not reach it. He could make no sound; he could only +tear fruitlessly at the merciless fingers that were grasping his +throat. His eyes started horribly, glaring up into Sir Nicholas' face: +the last thing he was conscious of was the brightness of the blue eyes +above him and the grim smile that curled Sir Nicholas' lips. + +Sir Nicholas' hands left the bruised throat; he stepped to the table, +caught up the napkin laid ready there, and tied it expeditiously round +the unconscious man's mouth. The dagger was drawn from its sheath, the +key picked up from the floor where it had fallen. Holding the dagger in +his right hand, Sir Nicholas went with a firm tread to the door, fitted +the key in the lock, turned it, and opened the door. + +Outside the sentry stood, leaning on his halberd. Some instinct must +have warned him of danger, for even as the door opened he turned his +head sharply to see who came. He had only time to let out a startled +cry, but that second's mischance brought an oath to Beauvallet's lips. +The dagger went home between neck and shoulder, and the sentry seemed +to crumple up where he stood. + +But the one cry, shrill as it was, was like to ruin all. An answering +shout sounded, and from the main stairway a man came running. + +Sir Nicholas wrenched the dagger free, and was gone in a flash towards +the south side of the building. His intention had been to get round +on this side to the Governor's quarters, but now, with the alarm +given, and men running to the pursuit, this was clearly impossible. He +bounded up the spiral stairway at the junction of the corridors, and +found himself in a similar passage to the one below, except that it +was walled in, with embrasured windows over which hung heavy curtains, +giving on to the court below. A cresset hung at the top of the stairs, +and threw a feeble light; there was another in the middle of the +corridor to his left. + +Below there was the sound of running feet, shouts, and the clatter of +pikes. Sir Nicholas sent a quick look round, and his eye alighted on a +stout oak chest standing against the wall. He stepped quickly forward; +there was a heave and a thrust, and the chest went crashing down the +stair on top of the foremost man who was running up. The chest jammed +tight on the turn of the stair; there was a furious oath, clatter, and +confusion. The first of the pursuers went tumbling backwards into the +arms of the man behind him, who, in his turn, lost his balance under +the sudden impact and fell heavily. + +Sir Nicholas laughed out at that, and having seen his chest securely +wedged, turned. He had not the least idea what he was going to do +next, and he rather thought that he was trapped, but his eyes were +fairly blazing with sheer joy of action, and a smile of amusement was +on his lips. + +Footsteps and voices sounded on the main stair at the other end of the +quadrangle. Sir Nicholas stayed, poised on his toes, waiting to see +which way these pursuers would come. They rounded the far corner of the +eastern corridor, where he stood, some three or four soldiers running +with halberds levelled. Sir Nicholas sprang to the left, and was off +down the southern passage, making for the Governor's quarters on the +western side. + +He had almost reached the corner when he checked suddenly, and cast a +quick glance round him for some way of escape. Ahead of him, down the +western corridor, perilously close, was coming the thud of heavy feet, +running fast. He was indeed trapped. + +Another moment and the men behind him would have rounded the corner, +and would have him in view again. Sir Nicholas made for the end window +on this side, slipped into the embrasure, and drew the heavy curtains +to behind him. + +The window opened on to its little railed balcony; Sir Nicholas stepped +out, soft-footed, and cast a glance down into the court below. It was +too dark to distinguish forms, but he could hear voices, and knew that +there were soldiers gathered there. + +He thrust the dagger through his belt, tested the iron railing a moment +with his hand, and peered through the gloom for the first balcony on +the western side. He could just distinguish it. One moment he measured +the distance; then he set his foot on the railing and came lightly up +with a hand on the wall to steady himself. Judging by the sounds, the +men running down the western corridor had now reached the corner. Sir +Nicholas gathered himself together, and jumped like a diver, head first +for the next balcony. His hands just caught its railing; he hung there +a moment, panting, put forth a great effort, and hoisted himself up. +He had a leg over the rail in a minute, and the next instant he had +disappeared in at the window. + +He found himself in a deserted passage. Down the corner along which +he had come were pelting the soldiers; in another moment they would +collide with the other party whom Sir Nicholas had first seen. There +would be more talk of witchcraft after this night's work, thought Sir +Nicholas, and grinned appreciatively. Each of those converging parties +were convinced they had the escaped prisoner trapped; they were very +shortly to discover that El Beauvallet had once more lived up to his +reputation, and this time had vanished, to all appearances, into thin +air. El Beauvallet kissed his fingers in the wake of the zealous +guards, and made for the first door he could see. + +It was unlocked. He went in cautiously, and found himself in an empty +bedchamber, poorly furnished, and with one small cresset lamp burning +over the mantelpiece. It was probably some tirewoman's chamber, he +thought. He closed the door softly behind him, and went to the window. +It stood open, looking on to the garden. Sir Nicholas swung one leg +over the sill, feeling for a foothold. The wistaria brushed his leg; he +found a branch, swung the other leg over, caught at the thick tendrils, +and went sliding, scrambling down to the balcony immediately below, +upon the first storey. The wistaria tore away from the wall, but he +reached to safety. He had one leg over the balcony rail, one hand +feeling for a hold on the creeper, when there came a noise to make him +draw back quickly. + +The door leading into the garden from the hall below was flung open; +there was the flare of a torch, and a voice said clearly: "Two of you +keep guard lest he try to escape this way." + +Without a moment's hesitation Sir Nicholas slipped in at the open +window behind him. + +The curtains were slightly parted, and a soft light shone through. Sir +Nicholas, keeping against the dark background of the curtain, peeped +in. The room was empty; Sir Nicholas went in and pulled the curtains to +behind him. + +"God's Life!" he muttered ruefully. "Where am I now?" + +He stood in a large bedchamber, which was furnished in a massive style, +with a great four-posted bed hung with curtains of velvet, a chest of +inlay work, a table, chairs, and a hanging cupboard against the wall. +There was a door opposite the window and even as Sir Nicholas went +towards it footsteps sounded outside, and a hand was laid on the latch. +Sir Nicholas drew swiftly back to the bed and slipped behind the heavy +curtains. + +The door opened; someone came in with a quick step, went to the table, +and pulled a drawer out in it. There was a rustle of paper; Sir +Nicholas parted the curtain and saw a man standing with his back to +him, hurriedly turning over papers in the drawer. He was cloaked, and +wore a large capotain hat with a drooping plume in it. At his side, +hitching up the long folds of the cloak, hung a rapier. + +Inch by inch, cat-like, Sir Nicholas came towards him. A board creaked +suddenly under his foot; the cloaked man turned sharply, and as he +turned Beauvallet's fist shot out. The man fell without a sound, and +Sir Nicholas saw that he had knocked out no less a personage than Don +Cristobal de Porres, Governor of the Guards. + +"God save the mark, my noble gaoler!" said Sir Nicholas, and stepped +over Porres' prostrate form to the door. He shut it, cast a quick +glance at the limp figure, and went to the bed. With one eye watchfully +upon the Governor he slit the fine brocade coverlet into strips with +his dagger, and came back to kneel beside the still form. + +"Nay, but I am sorry for this, my poor friend," he said, and stuffed +one of his strips into Don Cristobal's slack mouth. Another, torn +across was tied hastily round to keep the rude gag in place. He +unclasped the cloak from about Don Cristobal's neck, and the gleaming +collar of the Golden Fleece met his eyes. Off it came; Sir Nicholas +gave a tiny chuckle. "My dear friend," said he, "I believe this may +stand me in very good stead. You shall not grudge it me." He fastened +the collar round his own neck, unbuckled the baldrick that held the +Governor's rapier, and neatly bound the unfortunate man's ankles and +wrists. As he tied the last knot Don Cristobal stirred, and opened his +eyes. They fell on Beauvallet, seemed bewildered at first, and then as +full consciousness returned, furious. + +"I know, I know," said Sir Nicholas. "I am sorry for it, señor, but +you will admit I am hard-pressed." His eyes twinkled. "A churlish +return for all your kindness, Don Cristobal, and I would not have +had you think El Beauvallet so ungrateful a dog." He saw the look +of consternation leap into the Governor's face, and laughed. "Oh +yes, señor, I am El Beauvallet." As he spoke he was buckling the +rich baldrick about his waist. "Señor, I must stow you away. Keep my +sword in exchange for this of yours; it is a rare blade, and you may +say with truth that you were the only man who ever took aught from +Nick Beauvallet against his will. Now, señor, if you please." He had +opened the door of the cupboard, and now he bundled Don Cristobal into +it, and shut the door upon him. He picked up the cloak, fastened it +about his shoulders, and disposed its ample folds about his person. +The Governor's lace handkerchief and long cane lay on the floor; Sir +Nicholas gathered them up, set the broad-brimmed hat well over his +eyes, thanked God for a beard and a pair of mustachios very like Don +Cristobal's, and walked to the door. As he laid his hand on the latch +there was a scratching on one of the panels, and a man's voice called: +"Señor, the coach waits." + +"In a very good hour!" thought Sir Nicholas. "God send I may brazen +this out. I thank my luck that the light is behind me. Forward, El +Beauvallet!" He opened the door, and went calmly out into the passage. + +A servant stood there; Sir Nicholas could not see his features plainly +in the dim light of the passage, and hoped that his own were as well +hid. He closed the door behind him, and motioned the servant to go +before. The man bowed, and went ahead at once. + +Along the passage they walked to the stairs at the end. The servant +stood aside there for Sir Nicholas to pass. Sir Nicholas went down the +stairs unhurriedly and crossed the hall at the bottom. + +The front door was held open by a lackey, who stared to see his master +coming so unconcernedly. He ventured to speak. "Señor--the lieutenant +has just gone into the library in search of you. You have not heard, +señor--the prisoner has escaped!" + +Sir Nicholas raised the handkerchief to his lips and coughed. Through +the cough he said in as fair an imitation of Don Cristobal's voice as +he could assume: "He is taken. The sergeant has my instructions." + +He went past the lackey as he spoke, but he knew that the man was +surprised, perhaps even suspicious, and there was not a moment to be +lost. A coach with plumes upon the roof and curtains hung at the sides +stood waiting. He got in. "I am late. Drive fast." + +The coachman was agog with excitement. "Señor, the prisoner----" + +"The prisoner is safe!" said Sir Nicholas. "Drive on!" + +The coachman gathered up the reins; the horses' hooves clattered on the +paving-stones; the coach moved slowly forward under the arch towards +the open gates. + +The lackey at the door ran after. "Señor, the lieutenant----" + +"To hell with the lieutenant!" said Sir Nicholas. "Drive on!" + +The coach rumbled out of the gate and turned at right angles into the +street. + +The lieutenant, Cruza, hurrying out of the house, was just in time to +see it disappear round the corner. "What--the Governor!" he cried. + +The lackey rubbed his perplexed head. "Señor, the Governor would not +wait. He sounded very hasty, and unlike himself." + +"The Governor would not wait?" Cruza stared uncomprehendingly. + +There came a shout from within. "Stop that man! Stop that man! The +Governor is here, gagged and bound! _Stop that man!_" + +"_Sangre de Dios_, he is away!" cried the lieutenant, and went bounding +out through the archway. "For your lives after that coach!" he shot at +the sentries. "The prisoner is in it! Off with you!" + +But when two labouring soldiers came up with the slow-moving coach +there was no one inside. El Beauvallet had vanished. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + +Outside the wall that enclosed the Governor's garden Joshua waited, +safe in the shadows. He had a coil of rope in his hand, and had hitched +his dagger round so that he might easily come at it. He shivered from +time to time, started at small noises, and was finely scared by a +marauding black cat. Recovering from this fright he watched the cat +slink off, and was moved to shake his fist at it. "What, you doxy! +You'll creep up to give me a fright, will you? You may thank my need +for quiet that I do not spit you on the end of my knife." The cat +disappeared over the wall. "Ay, over you go, featly as you please, upon +your naughty business," said Joshua bitterly. "If a man might get over +that wall so easily I should be the better pleased." He set himself to +listen again, but could hear only the rustle of the light wind through +the trees. "Can he make it?" muttered Joshua. "I do not doubt, no, but +I confess I shall be the more at ease when I see you safe beside me, +master. Ha, what's this?" + +He listened intently, heard the sound of voices on the other side, but +could not catch what was said. A door slammed, he heard the gravel +scrunch under a heavy boot, a sound as of a grounded halberd, and a +murmur of voices. + +Dismay consumed him; he was in a fret to be gone from his post, to be +up and doing, at least to know more. If Sir Nicholas had broken free +he could never escape this way, with men posted in the garden. And +how to warn him? Joshua wrung his hands in impotent despair. "God's +me, God's me, this is to ruin all! I am in no doubt now that you have +broken free, master, but why so slow? Ah, why, why? You will walk into +this trap. This is not Mad Nick's way to let others be before him. +What mischance? Trapped, trapped!" He looked right and left. "To warn +you--think, Joshua, think! I am no loose-living cat to go jumping +walls." He bit his nails in a frenzy, glanced up at the wall, shook his +head hopelessly. "Naught to do but to wait. But if he hath broken loose +what makes he there? Will he fall upon these men in the garden? What, +weaponless to pit his strength against I know not how many men with +pikes? And here stand I mammering! Nor dare do else!" + +He stood still, listening, sweating, dreading at once the sound of a +capture in the garden, and the approach of some loiterer, or, worse, a +guard in the street. + +He stiffened suddenly, and peered into the darkness. A light step +sounded, approaching fast. He began to walk away down the street, as +though bound upon some errand. + +The footsteps were coming closer, rapidly overhauling him. He stole a +hand to his dagger, and went steadily on his way. If this was a guard +he was coming on his death. + +He was overtaken, felt a grip on his shoulder, and spun round, dagger +out. A hand caught his wrist in mid-air, and held it clamped hard. +"Death on thy soul, Joshua! learn to know your master!" hissed Sir +Nicholas. + +Joshua almost fell to his knees. "Master! Safe! safe!" he whispered +ecstatically. + +"Of course I am safe, fat-wit. Put up that knife. A horse is all my +need." + +"Said I not so!" Joshua was moved to kiss his hand. "Said I, what will +be my master's cry? Why, what but Horses, Joshua! They are hard by, +sir, saddled and ready." + +"God 'ild you, then. Lead me to them. The hunt is up in good sooth, and +we must win clear away to-night." He gave a little chuckle. "A rare +night's work! Where's my lady?" + +"Gone these four days, master, and that squirting ahead of her." Joshua +led him down a side-alley, walking fast. "I had speech with the noble +lady, and bade her be of good cheer, and keep faith. Then I saw her +leave Madrid with the old lady, and learned they were to waste no time +upon the journey. I warrant I have been about the town a little! How +came you out of that hold, master?" + +He was told, very briefly, and rubbed his hands over it. "Ay, that is +the way it goes. Ho-ho, they have our measure now, if they had it not +before! But I submit, master that we have to consider a little. Having +lost their prisoner what will they do?" + +"Send hot-foot to the Frontier, and the ports," said Sir Nicholas. + +"True, master, and we take the Frontier road as far as Burgos." He +shook his head. "Still very barful. But we will not be amort. We have +the start of them, and they will not look for us at Vasconosa. Tarry +here awhile, sir. No need to show yourself." He had stopped at a street +turning. "I go to fetch the horses." + +He was back soon with two fine jennets, each with a light pack strapped +to the saddle. + +"Boots, man!" said Sir Nicholas. "Have you my sword safe?" + +"Never doubt me, sir!" said Joshua complacently, unbuckling a pack. +"Your boots are at hand. I have thought of everything. I am not one to +be bestraught by disaster." He unearthed a pair of top-boots, caught up +the shoon Sir Nicholas had kicked off, and stowed them away. + +The long boots were pulled on, the spurs swiftly fastened. Sir Nicholas +vaulted lightly into the saddle. "On then, my Joshua!" He laughed, and +Joshua saw that his eyes were alight. "A race for life this time!" he +said, wheeled about, and drove in his heels. + + * * * * * + +The two sentries came panting back to the barracks, and to Cruza, +feverishly awaiting them. "Gone, señor!" they gasped. + +"Fools! Dolts! He was in that coach!" + +"He was gone, señor." + +Cruza fell back. "Holy Virgin, witchcraft!" He hurried in to where his +superior waited. Don Cristobal, unbound now, shaken, but composed, +received him with a questioning lift of the brows. + +"Señor, he was not in the coach when the guards came up with it. It is +witchcraft, foul devil's work!" + +Don Cristobal smiled contemptuously. "If you would say we have been +finely tricked you speak nothing but the truth," he said acidly. "Would +he sit still in the coach to await capture? Turn out the guard!" + +Cruza shot an order to a goggle-eyed sergeant, waiting close by. +"Señor, can it be that it is El Beauvallet indeed?" + +Don Cristobal slightly rubbed his bruised wrists. "He did me the honour +of telling me so with his own lips," he said. He moved to the table, +and dipped a quill in the inkhorn. "One man to take this writing to Don +Luis de Fermosa, to request him order out the alguazils to search the +town. The prisoner cannot have gone far." + +Cruza wrinkled his brow at that. "Señor, will he not make for the +Frontier?" + +Don Cristobal dusted his paper with sand, and read it over before he +answered. As he folded and sealed it he said calmly:--"He must procure +a horse for that, Cruza, and we know that he has no money." He gave the +paper into his lieutenant's hands, and turned to his valet. "A hat and +a cloak, Juan." + +The valet hurried away. Cruza ventured another question. "Señor, where +do you go?" + +"To the Alcazar," replied the Governor. "To learn his Majesty's +pleasure in this matter." + +Access to Philip was at first denied him. The King was private in his +closet, and would see no one. A word in the King's valet's ear produced +the required effect. That privileged person went off in a hurry, and +presently Don Cristobal was summoned to the presence. + +The news had been told Philip, but he displayed his habitual equanimity +to Don Cristobal, deeply bowing before him. He let his apathetic gaze +run over the Governor, but said nothing. + +"Sire"--Don Cristobal made the shortest work he could of it--"I have to +inform your Majesty, to my shame, that my prisoner has escaped." + +Philip folded his cool hands. "This is a very strange thing that you +tell me, Don Cristobal." + +The Governor flushed. "I do not know what to say, sire. I am myself +overwhelmed." + +"Compose yourself. When did the prisoner escape?" + +"Not an hour ago, sire. He overpowered the guard who brought his supper +to him, stabbed the sentry without; by some means unknown to me slipped +through the hands of two parties of guards who thought they had him +trapped between them, and by means equally unknown to me reached my own +chamber. I, entering and knowing nothing of the affair, was taken by +surprise, sire." His hand went involuntarily to the bruise on his chin. +"The prisoner struck me down, sire, before I was aware, and when I +came to myself I was gagged and bound upon the floor. The prisoner put +on him my hat and cloak, my insignia of the Golden Fleece, my sword, +and thus disguised, sire, went down to the coach that waited to take +me to the house of a friend. My lieutenant, suspecting some mischief, +sent after the coach hot-foot, but when the guards came up with it the +prisoner had vanished." + +Silence fell. The lids dropped over Philip's eyes, hiding whatever +chagrin or anger he might be feeling. After a pause he raised them +again. It was characteristic of him that he chose to dwell upon one of +the smaller points of the matter. "This would seem to show that he is +El Beauvallet, by his own confession," he said weightily. + +"Sire, the prisoner spoke his name out boldly to me. He said, sire, +when he took my sword from me, that I might keep his in exchange, and +boast that I was the only man who ever took aught from El Beauvallet +against his will." + +There was another pause. "He must be captured," said the King at +length, and struck a silver handbell at his side. + +"Remembering, sire, that he has no money wherewith to buy him a horse, +and must therefore be hiding in Madrid, I sent at once to Fermosa to +request him to search the town." + +Philip inclined his head. "You did well, señor." + +A man came in, and stood attentively at the King's elbow. Philip was +already writing a laborious memorandum. His pen moved unhurriedly. He +remarked without raising his eyes from the paper: "Yet so desperate a +man as this might not hesitate to steal a horse. A runner must be sent +to the Frontier." + +From what he had seen of Beauvallet Don Cristobal did not think that he +would hesitate for a moment. "With submission, sire, I would suggest +that a runner be sent to the ports, in especial Vigo and Santander." + +"Runners will be sent at once," said Philip calmly, "to all the ports +with orders to the Alcaldes to apprehend this man. But we shall do well +to remember, Don Cristobal, that we have to do with one who has evil +arts at command." + +Whatever doubts Don Cristobal might cherish as to Beauvallet's supposed +wizardry he merely bowed his head respectfully. + +Father Allen, until now a silent listener over against the window, came +forward. "Your Majesty has forgotten that there is the servant to be +reckoned with." + +The King's brain did not work fast, but it never forgot. "The servant +fled, Father," he said positively. + +Father Allen bowed. "So we were led to believe, sire." + +Philip had to digest this. A shade of annoyance crossed his face. +"I cannot think that I have been well-served in this," he said, and +motioned to the secretary to write at his dictation. + +The various despatches were at last ready; messengers were to ride to +the Frontier, and to any port of size. Through the length and breadth +of Spain would run the news that a famous pirate was at large. Philip +leaned back in his chair with a thin-lipped smile of satisfaction. +"He will run into a net," he said with unwonted urbanity. "We shall +presently draw the strings tight." + +This was all very well, but there were others who did not share the +King's optimism. Perinat, when he heard next day of the escape, fairly +danced with mortification, and predicted disaster to an awestruck +circle. + +"To hold him and to let him slip through the fingers!" raved Perinat. +"He should have been shackled and handcuffed, and never left! What do +you know of him? Nothing! I knew, ah, I knew! but I was not heeded. Oh +devil and fiend! oh warlock, you are away yet once again!" + +Noveli cut into this impassioned outburst. "He cannot get away. Every +port will be stopped, and none allowed to set sail on any vessel. The +Frontier will be barred before he can reach it, and even if it were not +you forget that he has no pass." + +Perinat pointed a prophetic finger. "You may stop the ports, you may +bar the Frontier, but he will slip through your guards, and laugh at +you as he does so! Ah, to have had him, and to let him go!" His fierce +gaze swept the group. "The ports! the Frontier! Why came he into Spain? +Heard you not the true reason from Carvalho's lips? Where is Doña +Dominica de Rada?" + +"Why, on the road to Vasconosa," said someone. "But----" + +"Then let the King send there for him!" said Perinat. "And still he +will be too late! The villain's away, I tell you!" + +Another gentleman came to join the group, one whose eyes were restless +and uneasy, and whose fingers twitched rather nervously. Don Rodriguez +de Carvalho, on whom the news had fallen like a thunderbolt, was in a +sorry case. Sharing to the full the popular dread of El Beauvallet, +he did not know what to do. He feared for his son's life, he feared +for his niece's safety, and he dared not divulge Beauvallet's probable +destination for fear of implicating Dominica, and seeing her and her +wealth swallowed up by the Holy Inquisition. He came now, fussy and +fidgeting, to hear what was being said of the escape, and was in time +to catch Perinat's last words. + +Perinat pounced on him at once. "Ah, in a good hour, Carvalho! Tell me, +will not this pirate be after your niece?" + +Don Rodriguez looked startled. He stammered:--"I do not think +it--I cannot suppose it. She was resolute in denying him. Maybe we +mistake--what should El Beauvallet hope to make in Spain?" + +"He is self-declared," interposed Aranda, "That evening when I first +met him he dared to speak his own name! Do you remember, Losa? He said +that if El Beauvallet stood where he stood then he would still laugh. +What impudence! What daring! One gasps at it." + +Perinat, obsessed by the one idea, brushed this aside. "You waste time! +The King should be told of this. It is for you, Carvalho, to warn him." + +Don Rodriguez hesitated and was lost. "If you think it wise, señors.... +But I cannot agree with you. I cannot suppose that my niece would +suffer him. She is head-strong indeed, but she does not forget--in +short, señors, if El Beauvallet seeks her indeed it is against her +will." + +"Against her will when she declared she knew him not?" burst out +Perinat. "The girl's besotted!" + +Losa lifted a finger to silence Perinat. "I think that the King should +be told that Doña Dominica de Rada is on her way to Vasconosa, and that +El Beauvallet may well be on her heels," he said. + +"Well, señor, well.... If you do not think it is to waste his Majesty's +time," Don Rodriguez said unhappily. + +He went to the King, and found Don Cristobal de Porres there, +announcing failure to find El Beauvallet in Madrid. He blurted out his +mission as best he could, and was at pains to tell the King that he +himself was no believer in the wild tale. + +Philip gave it his slow consideration. The first thing he said +was:--"If this is so it casts grave doubts on Doña Dominica's faith. +This must be looked into. Why was I am not told that Doña Dominica had +left Madrid?" + +Don Rodriguez made haste to say that he had come with the news the +instant he had heard of El Beauvallet's escape. + +Followed a lengthy conference. Slowly, methodically Philip pieced the +whole thing together in his careful head, and when that was done turned +to Porres, who was fretting to set matters in train. "We shall entrust +this charge to you, señor," he said. + +Don Cristobal bowed. "I thank your Majesty. I will have a party ride +north at once. Give me leave to withdraw, sire!" + +Philip waved him away; the Governor kissed his hand, went out sedately +backwards, but once clear of the King's closet wasted no time. + +A party of guards was despatched within half an hour, with orders to +spare neither themselves nor their horses, but at all costs to reach +Vasconosa ahead of El Beauvallet. Changes of horses they must have, and +could get easily enough at the various post-stages; or if none were to +be had there they were on the King's business, and might commandeer +what mounts they pleased. Cruza, burning to capture the man who had +slipped so easily through his fingers, was sent in charge of the little +party, and swore to bring the pirate back in bonds. There would be +little rest allowed to Cruza's men on this wild ride north. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + +The big coach that bore Dominica away from Madrid pushed northwards +with what speed it could make. Four horses dragged it, and these were +changed at every post. For a lady of such natural indolence Doña +Beatrice moved swiftly when she chose to move at all. + +The coach was decked with plumes upon the roof, hung with leather +curtains that could be fastened at will, and fitted with padded +seats of red velvet. The body was of the newest kind, slung on stout +leather straps, which helped to ease the discomfort of the journey. +It was roomy enough to accommodate not only the two ladies, but their +tirewomen as well, and a number of packages and bags. Behind it came +lackeys with led sumpters; beside it rode guards of the Carvalho +household, decked out in their master's livery, making a brave show of +it on this journey through the country. Dominica, listlessly regarding +this cavalcade, reflected that if her aunt feared to be overtaken by El +Beauvallet she had a very ample guard to protect her from this one man. + +Changes of horses had been bespoken beforehand at each stage. None but +the strongest Flemish horses were harnessed to the equipage, and these +great powerful beasts drew them rapidly on their way. + +The post-road was full of pot-holes, and deep ruts, hard-baked by the +sun; at times it was a mere track across the plain, at others it became +a rocky mountain pass, where the number of horses had to be doubled to +drag the coach up. They slept at inns along the road, but the coach +never stopped until it was too dark to go further, and it was off again +betimes in the morning. When Dominica wearily asked the reason of such +insensate haste her aunt only smiled, and said:--"When I rouse myself +to undertake such a disagreeable journey as this, my dear, I waste no +time over it." + +The lady beguiled much of the tedium of the journey by sly references +to Beauvallet, left behind them. She veiled her words, out of +consideration of the listening tirewomen, but Dominica was never in any +doubt as to her meaning. + +Dominica, jolted and bumped in her corner of the coach was not at a +loss for suitable answers. They came out very pat, and had an edge to +them. Doña Beatrice chuckled softly, and pinched the girl's cheek, not +at all ruffled. + +This cat-and-mouse play was not to be borne. Dominica made a bid for +freedom, and announced her wish to ride part of the way. To sit in a +bumping, lurching coach, she said, day upon day, irked her sorely. With +her aunt's good leave she would have a horse saddled for her on the +morrow, and ride for at least an hour or two. + +"How restless you are, my dear!" remarked Doña Beatrice. "By all means +do as you please. Young blood cannot be still? But I do not know that +it is at all seemly." + +"There will be none to see me, aunt, and I have not been used to be +cooped up," Dominica said. + +"True," agreed Doña Beatrice, and disposed herself to slumber. + +On the morrow it was so ordered. Dominica came down from her chamber +at the inn in riding-dress, fully prepared to fight for the privilege +she claimed. However, there was no need. Doña Beatrice merely said that +it was a pity Don Diego was not there to act as escort, and told a +groom to stay near his young mistress. + +Dominica carried a heavy heart in her breast, but could still enjoy +this spell of exercise and of freedom. There had been little enough +riding for her since she had come back to Spain. She remembered long +gallops at Santiago, and knew a little of the same joyous feeling of +freedom as she had had there. She rode well, had no fear, and led the +groom a fine chase at a full gallop. She reined in at last, flushed and +wind-tossed, breathed her horse a moment, and went cantering back to +meet the lumbering coach. + +Her aunt had had the curtains drawn back, and greeted her with a +quizzical look. "You are a very Diana, my dear. Were you riding to +escape from me?" + +Dominica tucked an escaped curl back under her French hood. "No, +señora, I doubt it would be of no avail," she said frankly. + +She came presently to sit in the coach again, but thereafter it was +understood that when my lady willed it so she would ride, and there was +always to be a horse procured for her. + +Away from her aunt's side she had leisure to indulge her thoughts. They +could not be pleasant. Not even Joshua's stout optimism could allay her +fears. She felt herself to be a traitress, flying from Beauvallet in +his hour of need, yet Joshua had seemed to think she did well to go, +and indeed what could she do by remaining, even had it been possible? +If they had chosen to interrogate her she would have fought with all +her woman's wit for Beauvallet, but they had not chosen. Oh, if she +were a man she would fight for him in other ways than that! Her eyes +kindled to the thought, and her hand clenched on her whip. + +If she could believe that Sir Nicholas would escape she might play +with the fancy of him in pursuit, even now as she rode from him. She +imagined him hard on her heels, spurring on and on, riding down this +stately equipage. She could imagine how his sword would flash out, how +he would snatch her up, and ride off with her, laughing, triumphant. +She had to shake the tears from her eyes; the gay lover was caught and +prisoned, and would no more come riding to win her. + +They came within a stage of Vasconosa upon the tenth day. The labouring +lackeys swore softly against such haste. "One would say the devil was +on our heels." + +Dominica overheard the phrase. If Sir Nicholas had been behind they +would be very sure the devil was on their heels, she thought. + +There was a stream to be forded; the coach lurched down the bank, and +the shallow waters lapped round the wheels. Dominica's horse chose to +jib at the stream, sidled, and backed, but was forced on. She went +through, climbed the slope beyond, and reined in to await the coach. +There was some trouble over this; the wheels sank into the mud of the +stream-bed, and the great horses strained in vain. The men were all +about the coach, pushing, gesticulating, arguing. It was decided to +rope two saddle horses to the coach. + +There came a thunder of hooves to the north, behind Dominica. She +turned her head, and saw a troop riding towards her, _ventre à terre_. +Her eyes narrowed in surprise; the horsemen came nearer, and she saw +masked faces. She cried out in swift alarm, wheeled her horse about, +and went quickly down the slope to where the coach still stuck in the +stream. "Bandits!" she said. "A troop of masked men! Get to horse!" + +The men left their task of extricating the coach. Two of the guards +sprang into the saddle at once; the coachman got out his musket. + +Doña Beatrice leaned back at her ease. "Did you say bandits, my dear? I +can hardly credit it." + +"Masked men, señora. I know not, but I misliked what I saw." + +Doña Beatrice looked round at her bodyguard, and yawned. "Well, and if +you did, my dear, we have guards enough to give them a fine scare. Do +not be alarmed." + +"I am not alarmed," said Dominica with dignity. + +The troop appeared over the top of the slope, cloaked men, with gauze +masks covering their faces. A shot sounded, there was a flash of +steel; the bandits came scrambling down the slope to engage with Doña +Beatrice's bodyguard. + +Dominica thought there were no more than six of them, but she could not +be sure in the _mêlée_. Her heart beat fast, but there was something +about this battle that made her draw her brows together, and look +frowningly. There were pistol shots, but no man was wounded; swords +flashed, but no man was cut down. + +Doña Beatrice's fan stopped waving. Her eyes were narrow all at once, +and behind them her brain was moving quickly. She sat forward with a +hand on the side of the coach, watching this odd fray. + +Dominica knew a sudden, inexplicable fear. She brought her horse up +close to the coach. "Señora--aunt--what is this?" she asked urgently. + +"That is just what I am asking myself," said Doña Beatrice calmly. "If +these men are brigands they act as no brigands did that I ever heard +of." + +A couple of the masked men spurred up to the coach; a hand seized +Dominica's bridle. She slashed at the masked face with her whip; the +leather thong cut the mask across, and revealed an unshaven chin, a +thick nose, and the fast rising weal of the whip-lash. The whip was +wrested from Dominica's hand. She cried out to her guards:--"To me! To +me, cravens!" + +They were sheepish, laying down their arms, as though worsted in the +fight. Yet there was not a man among them who had taken a hurt. + +Dominica drove her heel in hard, struck at the hand on her bridle. Her +horse plunged forward, but her captor jerked it up. "Help me, cowards!" +Dominica cried furiously. + +Doña Beatrice had half risen from her seat as though she would descend +from the coach. She sank slowly back now, her eyes fixed under their +drooping lids on a masked horseman who stood a little apart from the +rest. She watched him turn his head to give an order to one of the men. +She could not hear his voice, but she had no need to hear it. A woman +should know her own son. + +Her hand felt for her fan. Thoughtfully she looked at her niece, being +forced on up the slope. A very infamous proceeding. She was surprised +that Diego should think of such a scheme. Her shoulders shook +slightly; meditatively she bit one finger-nail. Should she put a stop +to it or no? She had no doubt that a word from her would subdue Don +Diego, but should that word be spoken? This was a crude performance, by +her standards, but she admitted she could have thought of no surer way +of reducing her niece to obedience. + +She slightly raised her ample shoulders in a gesture of fatalism. Let +Don Diego do as he chose: a girl never liked a man less for being shown +the strong hand. She turned her attention to her screaming tirewoman. +"I beg you will be quiet," she said. "We are not attacked, and you do +no good by that screeching." + +Old Carmelita pointed a shaking finger. "Señora, señora, they bear off +the señorita!" + +"I am not blind," said Doña Beatrice. "I can do nothing to the purpose. +Pray you be calm." + +The masked riders had closed round Dominica; in another moment they +were over the brow of the slope, and had gone out of sight. + +One of the guards came to the side of the coach, pushed on by his +fellows, and mumbled something inarticulate. + +"I suppose you to know what you are about," said Doña Beatrice sharply. +"Pray do not think me a want-wit. What did Don Diego pay you for this +piece of work?" + +The man was put out of countenance, shifted uneasily from one foot to +the other, and stammered an unmeaning answer. + +"You are a fool," said Doña Beatrice. She had resumed her fanning. A +movement of the fan beckoned the coachman forward. "Where is my son +taking Doña Dominica?" she asked languidly. + +"Señora--it--I do not know," said the coachman. + +"You would be better advised to speak the truth," said Doña Beatrice. + +The coachman looked at her, and seemed to think she might be right. +"Señora, to the lodge." + +"Ah!" said Doña Beatrice. "Who else is there?" + +"Señora, none but Luis, the valet." + +"You shock me," said the lady. "I think you had better set yourself to +pull the coach out of this stream." + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + +The riders hedged Dominica closely about, and struggle as she might +there was no withstanding the insistent drag on her bridle. She fought +desperately to rein in her horse, but the bridle was wrenched from +her straining hands. A cut across the quarters made the frightened +animal bound forward. Dominica leaned forward in the saddle to strike +passionately at the man who led her. He laughed, bade her be still, and +pressed on. + +She was sobbing with rage, quite powerless, but ready almost to fling +herself from the saddle rather than be carried on thus ignominously. +"Who are you?" she panted. "What do you want with me? Answer me, you!" + +No one replied to her question; she looked round wildly at the masked +faces: the blank gauze told her nothing. She looked ahead then, to note +the way they went, and found that they had left the road, and were +pressing on up a slight hill, towards wooded country. + +They had to check their pace; there were boulders in the way, and +overhanging tree-branches above their heads. A rough track led through +the forest; as far as Dominica could ascertain they were striking +north, towards Vasconosa. + +A man pushed forward, and came to ride on her other side. Dominica +stared at him, saw an elegantly gauntletted hand upon the rein, and +smelled the sweet scent of musk. It was not fear that seized her then, +but a cold fury that almost bereft her of speech. She struggled for +words, rejected what came, and said at last in a voice redolent of +scorn:--"You may unmask, my heroic cousin. I have your measure now." + +He gave a slight laugh, and put up his hand to remove the mask. +"Fairest cousin, well-met!" he said, and bowed to her over the +saddle-peak. + +She spoke through shut teeth. "Unless I am much mistaken, señor, you +will not say so for long." + +"I am sure you are much mistaken, sweet cousin," he returned, and +laughed again. + +She pressed her lips together, and rode on in silence. After a while +Don Diego leaned towards her, and took her bridle from the man who held +it. "Let me be your escort, child." + +"I appear to have little choice, señor." + +They rode on ahead of the troop. "You drove me to it, Dominica," Don +Diego said softly. + +She gave a short laugh at that. Now she could despise him to the full. +A man who would apologise for his villainy, whine at it! "Holy Virgin!" +she ejaculated. "Is that your excuse, cousin?" + +"My love for you!" he said, flushing at the contempt in her voice. + +"A rare love, by my faith!" + +"It brooks no hindrance. I am desperate for you. You shall not think +harshly of me." + +"I shall not think of you at all," she replied. "You are of no account." + +His brows drew close over his nose. "I shall show you otherwise, +Dominica." + +She yawned. + +"You scorn me," he said, "but I love you. You have flouted me, given +me sharp words, and cold looks, but I have you now by the strong hand." + +Her eyes flashed; her lip curled. "The strong hand! Yours!" She flicked +at it with her glove. "My God, I could match you a strong hand which +would put yours to shame!" + +He coloured. "You betray yourself, Dominica. Was Beauvallet's hand so +strong then? Did it keep him from capture, and will it keep him from +the stake?" + +She looked disdainful. "You rave. You are ridiculous. Mother of God, +but you sicken me!" + +"You will not long say so," he answered. + +"What, am I to be rid of you then? I give thanks for a happy +deliverance." + +He sneered at her. "Who shall deliver you, señorita? Your fine +Beauvallet, so neatly caught and prisoned? You will grow weary of +waiting for him, believe me." + +"I do, very easily, señor," she returned lightly. "But I make no doubt +the Chevalier de Guise would be happy to serve me were he free." + +"Very clever," he said, "but I sprang your secret the night he was +taken. Why persist in this pretence?" + +She shrugged. "If you have a maggot in your brain, cousin, I see no +reason why I should share it." She turned her head. "I suppose this to +be a plot of my aunt's?" + +"Dear cousin, give honour where it is due. The plot is mine alone." + +"You amaze me, señor, I had not thought you possessed the stomach for +so hardy a deed." + +"I am not so spiritiess as you think, perhaps," he said quickly. "If +you are happy to be with freebooters you should like this exploit." + +"Given any other man to be the abductor, señor, I might," she conceded. + +He jerked his shoulder up. "You gain nothing by such talk, cousin." + +They rode on in silence, further into the forest to a ride Dominica +recognised. She was being taken to the old hunting-lodge belonging to +the Vasconosa estate. It seemed to her a crowning insult that he should +dare to take her to a house not five miles from where her aunt lay. She +fairly gnashed her little teeth over it, and her cheeks flew colours of +rage. + +They drew up before the door. He lifted her down from the saddle, and, +looking round, she saw that the troop had dispersed, only one man +remaining to take their horses. Ignominy upon ignominy! She guessed the +men to be hildings employed upon the estate, and could imagine what +chuckles and sly looks were passing between them at her expense. Anger +consumed her; there was no room for fear. + +Luis, Don Diego's valet, had come out, bowing to them. He held the door +wide; she hesitated a moment, and then brushed past him into the hall +of the lodge. + +Diego, following her close, found her tapping her foot by the table. +"Dearest cousin you are surprisingly beautiful when you are enraged," +he told her. "There is a chamber prepared for you upstairs. I regret I +have no tirewoman to offer you, or any change of raiment. But you will +find such things as you need, and you have only to call, and Luis will +bring you what you ask for." + +"Your consideration passes belief, cousin," she said. "I do not +purpose to make a long stay, I thank you. I shall be glad to know what +you intend by me." + +The valet went discreetly away to the kitchens. Dominica was left +facing her cousin, straight and stiff in the middle of the hall. + +"I intend marriage, child, as I think you know." + +"Is this the way you woo in Spain, señor?" + +He came closer. "It is the only way to use with such a wild maid as +you, Dominica." + +"You are doomed to disappointment, señor. It is no way to use with me." + +He smiled. "You are tired from your long ride, and these alarms you +have sustained. Come, child, cry a truce, and let me lead you to your +chamber! When you have reposed yourself a little we will talk." + +She ignored his outstretched hand, but turned towards the stairs. She +had need to collect herself, to marshal her defences. She saw that she +stood in great danger; she would need all her wits about her to evade +it, and she was indeed shaken. Moreover, while he thought her safe +upstairs she might contrive to escape, she thought. Doña Beatrice might +stand back and allow her son to do his worst, but Dominica was fairly +sure she would not take a more active part in this villainy. If she +could win to her side she would be safe enough. + +This hazy idea of flight was soon put to rout. Don Diego, ushering her +into a chamber upstairs that gave on to the little garden at the back +of the lodge, displayed a key. "You will forgive the discourtesy, dear +cousin, but I must lock you in. I will come to fetch you to dinner in +an hour, if it please you!" + +She would not trust herself to speak; her breast heaved. She turned +sharply on her heel, and walked into the room. + +The door was shut behind her, the key grated in the lock. + +She stood still until she heard the stairs creak under Don Diego's +retreating footsteps. Then she went in a little dash to the window, and +flung it open, and looked out. It was unbarred, and for a sufficient +reason. There was no need of bars, for the wall of the house fell sheer +to the ground some twenty feet below. No friendly creeper afforded a +foothold, nor even a drain pipe. To jump from the window would mean +broken limbs, and maybe worse. She stayed panting by it, her fingers +gripping the ledge till the nails showed white. It was of no use though +to rage, and grind her teeth. Escape did not lie that way. + +She turned away from the window, and came back into the room, and took +stock of her surroundings. A great bed stood out from one wall, hung +with curtains of red damask; arras of tapestry covered the walls; there +was a chest, a chair, an escabeau, a table with carved legs, a mirror +hung above a second chest, whereon stood a basin and an ewer of silver. + +The mirror showed a tempestuous lady, wrath in her face; her hair +dishevelled under the French hood, her habit dusty and disordered. +Dominica poured water into the basin, and bathed her face and her +hands, slowly, abstractedly. A cake of soap was to hand, delicately +scented, a towel. She stood rubbing her fingers dry, and looking at her +reflection in the mirror, thinking, thinking. + +An hour later, Don Diego scratched on the panel of the door. A cool +voice bade him enter; he found his cousin seated by the window, her +hands folded in her lap, the picture of maidenly resignation. But he +knew her too well to suppose her resigned; it did not need the steely +flash in her eyes as she raised them to tell him that his cousin was +prepared to give battle. + +He bowed to her. "Dearest cousin, supper awaits you. May I lead you +down?" + +She rose at once, and came to the door; she even allowed him to take +her hand. They went in silence down the stairs and across the hall to a +smaller parlour, panelled with mulberry wood. Covers were laid upon a +draw-table; Luis stood deferentially waiting behind one of the chairs. +She was handed to it, and sat down with what composure she could +muster. The curtains had been drawn to shut out the fading daylight, +and a cluster of candles on the table lit the room. Outside the silence +of the country seemed to enfold the house. Dominica felt very alone, +and had to fight down a rising wave of panic. + +"Rude fare, dear cousin, I fear me, but you will forgive it. Luis is an +unaccustomed cook." + +She inclined her head. The food was well enough; she supposed this was +Don Diego's way of telling her that there was no one but herself and +him and Luis in the house. Superfluous information, she thought. + +He poured wine into her glass. "Will you take some of this wine of +Alicante, cousin?" + +She looked up quickly, puzzled and searching. The words were oddly +familiar, stirred a chord of memory. Her mind flew back; she stared at +Don Diego, but she saw instead a laughing face, with eyes of deep, +wind-swept blue.... + +"Do you suppose, señor, that your daughter will take wine from my +hands?..." + +A tremor shook her. Her eyes shut for a moment, as though to hold the +brief vision. She opened them again, and the _Venture's_ stateroom slid +back into the past. "I thank you, cousin," she said quietly, and picked +up the cup with a steady hand. + +She ate sparingly, drank less, and answered in monosyllables Don +Diego's easy flow of talk. Sweetmeats were at last set on the table, +and some ripe pomegranates from the south. Luis withdrew, and they were +alone. + +She pushed back her chair a little way from the table, and turned her +gaze towards Don Diego. "Cousin, I await your explanation." + +He lifted his cup in a silent toast. "It is contained in the one short +phrase, my dear. I love you." + +"You have an odd way of showing me, señor, that you love me. May I not +rather suppose that you love my possessions?" + +He frowned at that; he had not his mother's frankness. "They are as +nothing beside your charms, Dominica." + +"I fear you flatter me, cousin." + +He leaned towards her, stretched a pleading hand across the table. "Let +us not bandy idle words to and fro, Dominica. Believe I am mad for you!" + +"It does not strain my credence to believe you mad, señor." + +"I am mad, yes, but for love of you. No, let me speak! You do me wrong +when you think me anxious only to possess your wealth. I do not deny +that was my first thought. But I did not know you then; you had not +cast your divine spell over me. I would wed you were you penniless." +He saw that she was about to break in on this, and hurried on. "There +seemed to be no way but this. I took the straight, swift road to my +desires. You shall not blame me for that. You are angry now, outraged; +I see your eyes flame. Think but a little and you will pity me, +understand my seeming madness!" + +"I might pity your folly, señor, but pity will not work on me to wed +with you," she said. + +"Dominica!" He tried to take her hand, but it was swiftly withdrawn. "I +should be loth to use force. You shall learn to love me, even if you +hate me now. Put this English pirate out of your head----" + +"Oh, God's mercy, señor, still harping on that fairy tale?" she +exclaimed. "You put me out of all patience!" + +"He is sped," he insisted. "There is no escape for such as he. Set him +aside; forget him." + +She looked at him fully now, almost sternly. "Señor cousin, you talk +without meaning, but if the Chevalier de Guise were my lover, and he El +Beauvallet, I would be faithful to him though he died and I faced death +because of him." + +An ugly look leaped into his eyes. "You speak very strongly, cousin. +There are some things harder to face than death." + +This was coming to grips at last. Battle was joined, and she was glad +to have it so. Anything were better than his love-making. "Cousin," +she said, clenching her hand on the table. "I am no milk and water +maid for your ravishing. I tell you again that there is no power under +heaven will make me marry you." + +He leaned back in his chair, nonchalent, keenly watching her. "Bethink +you of your fair name, Dominica," he said gently. + +"I care nothing for it." + +"No?" He smiled. "Brave words, but you have not thought on it yet, +sweet cousin. You show me no mercy, no kindness. Should I then show you +any?" + +"I make no doubt you would not," she said swiftly. "But if you think to +wring consent to marriage out of me by such means, you are mistaken, +and have not my measure." + +He lifted the wine-cup to his lips, sipped, and held it still, his +elbow on the arm of his chair. "I can ruin you, my dear," he said. "If +you go from here unwed you can never show your face abroad again." + +"Do you not think, señor, that if I had to choose between marriage with +such as you and a cloister I would not choose the cloister?" + +It was plain that he had not thought of that. He set the cup down with +a snap, staring at her from under suddenly frowning brows. After a +moment he hitched up his shoulder in the way he had, and gave a short +laugh. "Idle words!" + +"Try me, and you will see, señor." + +He poured more wine, but he did not drink. "You think I do not know +what heretical notions you hide," he taunted her. + +She kept her countenance. "All that is past. I am a true daughter of +the Church, nor could you prove me other. The Church would receive me, +and my wealth too, be you very sure." + +"You do not know what you say." He drank deep, and set the cup down. +"This is to work on me, no more." + +"You live in a fool's paradise, cousin. There are no lengths to which +I would not go for the purpose of frustrating your foul designs. Why, +what does the world hold for me that I should cling to it? I am alone, +amongst enemies, for such you and my aunt have shown yourselves to be." + +"There is El Beauvallet," he said, and looked intently to see whether +she would change colour. + +She cast up her eyes, but answered patiently. "I humour your whims, +cousin. If the Chevalier de Guise were El Beauvallet, and my lover, +what would be left to me now but a cloister?" + +He sneered at that. "Oh, methought he could burst all bars and bolts, +this famous pirate!" + +"I suppose you thought so indeed, cousin, since you fled Madrid in such +haste," she said tartly. + +He showed his teeth a moment. "Do you imagine these holiday terms serve +you, señorita? I would be gentle with you, but you drive me to harsh +measures. You are besotted; you do not know in how dire a state you +stand. The hour grows late already, my cousin, and there is only Luis +in the house. I warrant you he will not hear a cry for help." + +She was afraid, desperately afraid, but no sign of it appeared in her +face. "You will let your desires ride you to your own undoing, cousin. +Work your will on me: you will lose my substance." + +He sprang up. "By God, woman, you are shameless!" he said violently. +"Is this the bold spirit the New World breeds? Do you hold your honour +of so small account? Out on you, I say!" + +"Do you then hold my honour in so great account?" she asked +contemptuously. "Was it your care for it induced you to bear me off +to-day?" + +He began to walk up and down the room, kicking a joint-stool out of +his way. She sat still, watching him, and courage soared high. He was +irresolute. She knew herself to be the stronger of the two; she could +hold him off for a while yet. + +His thoughts raced; he shot a quick look at her as he passed in his +impatient stride. She was sitting straight in her chair, hedged about +by a flaming barrier of resolve. She was strung up; events had marched +too swiftly to allow her girl's imagination to sap her courage. In a +dim way he realized this. Stealing yet another look at her rigid face, +and the dark eyes that burned in it, he could picture her very clearly +following out her threat. He had her in his power; he could work his +will on her, but some instinct told him that she was in too exalted a +mood to capitulate. + +He was honestly shocked by the attitude she chose to take up. It had +been unforeseen; it took him so much by surprise that he was thrown out +of his stride. She sat like a goddess, fearless and invincible. So much +he could see. + +He went on with his pacing, biting his finger-nails now, as he always +did when he was put out. He knew something of women; he had had +dealings with a-many and a-many, but this girl was out of his ken. + +He reflected. Her uplifted mood could not last; she was no goddess, +but a girl strung up to a pitch of abnormal excitement that would die. +He made up his mind to wait, to allow anticipation to wear down her +courage. + +He came to a halt opposite her. "We will see how you feel in the +morning, my cousin," he said. "Let the night bring sager counsel. You +are over-wrought, and I would not hurry you, nor do I wish to constrain +you by force. But mark me well! To-morrow night, if I have not your +promise to wed with me, you will not find me so gentle. If you will not +have me with the Church's holy tie you shall have me without it. You +have a night and a day to make up your mind whether you will be wife or +mistress, but one or the other you shall be. That I swear!" + +Some of the tension went out of her. She let her eyes fall that he +might not see the relief in them. Much might happen in a night and a +day; there was hope still. + +She rose. "Then I desire to retire to my chamber, señor, with your good +leave," she said. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + +Of that mad ride through Spain Joshua never afterwards spoke without +a shake of the head, and a gesture of incredulity. "You ask me how we +compassed it?" says he. "I will tell you very simply, I do not know. +We were out of Madrid featly enough, none saying us nay. Why should +they? My master wore the collar of the Golden Fleece about his neck, a +fine gaudy thing, to rank with our Garter, so I believe. That weighed +with them, I warrant you. If any speered after us, why, we were on the +King's business, and you may believe we tarried not to see how they +stomached that. + +"We rode through that first night without drawing rein. I thanked +Jupiter--a very potent planet in my affairs--that there was some faint +moonlight, else had we been shent. Past some town--you would not know +it, and nor did I--clouds came up, and we were left to flounder among +the ruts and the boulders. As I remember, we lost the road twice +between that stage and the next. I was near to breaking my head against +low-hanging tree-branches, lost, then bogged in some swamp. 'How fares +your honour?' sing I out into the darkness. 'Merrily, merrily!' calls +Sir Nicholas back to me. What can be done with such a mad-wag? We were +casting about to find the road, stumbling here, foundering there, with +all Spain hunting us to the rearward. But 'Merrily, merrily!' quoth +Sir Nicholas, and I doubt he thought so. Did he lose the road? What +matter for that? Trust him to nose out the north; it was enough. The +dawn came up, and a sharp wind with it, enough to cut one in two. I was +never more glad of the daylight. We struck the road--God's light, there +was little enough to choose between it and the open country!--pushed +on, the horses nigh done. My nag went lame: small blame to him. We +fetched up at the next stage, walking the last league. You may be sure +we had put a-many between us and Madrid. + +"My head was a-nod, and my eyes full of dust. What matter for that? +'How fares you honour?'--'Excellent well,' quotha, as though he were +upon a day's hunting. Ay, and a hunt it was, and he the hart. Yet I +do not deny he hunted too, a quarry of his own, and maybe gave more +thought to that than to the hounds behind him. So did not I, but I +own myself to be a very meacock creature, besides which the salt fell +towards me in an unlucky spill at that inn, and such a happening cannot +be regarded as fortunate. For all that I kept a good heart. There was a +certain prophesy made concerning me which led me to suppose I was not +destined to die upon a gallows, or at the stake. Moreover, if you go +upon a venture with Mad Nicholas you had best leave fear behind you. + +"We stayed but to break our fast at the stage. Maybe they looked +curiously at the inn. As I remember, there was a weasel-beaked fellow +mighty sprag to beagle out our business. He made little by that. We +ate but a running-banquet there; no sleep for us yet, by your leave. +A mouthful snatched, a cup or two of wine to slake our throats, and +away we went again. I remember I bestrode a leathern-mouthed Almaine--a +devil to ride, but a devil to go. Sir Nicholas had a Barb under him, a +fine fleet beast, but mine would have gone for double the distance. +Let that pass. We went at full stretch, no rest for man or beast. Thus +it is to go abroad on Sir Nicholas' affairs. But I do not complain. +'God save you, sir!' cry I, and I was reeling in the saddle. 'Will you +ride till Doomsday?' We drew rein then, at the next stage. 'We have a +fair start of them,' says my master, stretching up his arms. 'I'm for +bed.' I warrant you I dropped where I stood, and so slept. + +"It was all of a piece. We suffered a check here, an ill-chance there. +At one stage there were no nags to be had. We wasted a matter of six +hours: precious time if you are hunted men. But Sir Nicholas carried +all off with a high hand. I shivered to hear him, but it served, it +served. He had not been master of a ship's crew for naught, do you see? +We took what horses we would, scattered the ducats here and there. Did +a man refuse to sell? A murrain on the fellow! if he would not sell in +all honesty he must be robbed. To speak sooth, when it was thus shown +him he would, in the general way, sell. Our need? Why, we went upon +the King's business. Did they ask for proof? We waved a folded paper +in their silly faces. (It was an inventory of some shirts and other +matters sent to the washer woman, I believe, but they were not to know +that.) It sufficed. Our errand? Why, there was a dangerous pirate let +loose, a very fiend in human shape. Who was this one? Ho, who but El +Beauvallet himself! What a stir was there! We were off whiles the +dizzards chattered over it. + +"We suffered a bad check somewhere south of Burgos. There was not a +horse to be had that was not full of windgalls, or past cure of the +staggers. We lay up at an inn--a very noisome hole it was, but we took +little account of that. It was there we came near to our undoing, but +it passed, it passed. There came the sound of a horse ridden hard. I +could see the watchful look in my master's eye; he bore a fidgeting +sword in his scabbard those few minutes, nor was my dagger restful in +its sheath. A man went by our inn in a cloud of dust. When it cleared +he was away, but I know the look of a soldier, do you see? He was +rocking in the saddle: well he might if he had o'ertaken us! For we had +not gone at a jog-trot, as you may imagine. He was not on our track. +Nay, nay, unless I am much mistaken he was bound for the Frontier. We +might have stood in his path and mowed at him; he would have paid no +heed. All his orders were to stop the Frontier pass. For that matter +I believe we might have declared ourselves all along the way, and had +better service. The common folk make a hobgoblin of my master, and fear +him like the plague--the grandees not far otherwise, from all I could +observe. + +"Well, we made it in seven days, and might have made it in less, I +believe, but for that check south of Burgos. Odds lifelings, but I was +glad to leave the post road behind us at Burgos, and strike north-west +to Vasconosa. It was to shake off the hounds, you understand, for those +that went not to the Frontier would make Santander, as we judged, and +that lay to the east of us. A wild, mad journey, and a miracle that we +came off, say I!" + +Miracle or not, they did indeed come to Vasconosa at dusk upon the +seventh day. There was some sort of an inn there, but little else in +the village but a few hovels, and the Great House. + +Joshua did good work there while Sir Nicholas washed the travel-stains +from his person, and changed his dress. He was trimming his beard when +Joshua came up to his room. Joshua came strutting, and looked wisely. + +"We have beagled out some few matters, so please you, master. The Great +House we have seen, and I learn the family came in late last night. +Nothing's to be heard of them yet. We may easily come at the house; +there are a dozen ways through the gardens, and no guards save at the +gatehouse, and the stables. Naught to fear, they think. Why no, if they +had not El Beauvallet stalking them." + +"What of our road?" interrupted Sir Nicholas, combing his beard to a +point. "Could you discover the way?" + +"Never fear me, master. There will be some 'cross country work to +be done yet, over the hills, but we may go on a fair track, so I +understand, as far as Villanova. You ask me how I might find this out +without betraying matters not for the tapster's ears? Very simply, +sir. I am loud in my complaints that there is no road but the one in +these parts. In the south, say I, we are better served. That put our +dawcock on his mettle, I warrant you. 'Ho!' says he, 'I'd have you +know there is the road that runs to join the post-road a matter of ten +miles to the east of the Great House, and another which runs past the +hunting-lodge in the forest to Villanova." + +"We found Villanova on the map," said Sir Nicholas. "What is this +hunting-lodge?" + +"Be sure I asked, master. It need not concern us, being no more than +a summer-house that yon popinjay, Diego, uses for his sports. More +sports than you might think, master, I dare swear. It lies a matter +of five miles from here, and the track comes out not a hundred yards +from this inn. I have conned it. Now it seems to me, master, if you are +to steal your lady away, I had best have the horses tethered in the +spinney hard by the Great House, and so make that track as speedily as +may be possible." He saw that Sir Nicholas had put on a clean ruff, and +plucked a poking-stick from out his doublet. "So please you, sir, we +will poke out the folds of the ruff a little. Will you have me procure +a third horse with a lady's saddle?" + +Sir Nicholas frowned into the mirror. "I dare not take the risk," he +said after a moment's thought. "We want no questions asked, no tongues +set wagging. I'll have my lady up before me as far as to Villanova." He +glanced out into the fast gathering darkness. "Dark enough for me to +venture," he said. "Can you find that track at need, my man?" + +"I have it safe in my head, master." Joshua put up the poking-stick. +"But I would know, sir, what plan you have in mind." + +Sir Nicholas rose up from his chair. His eyes twinkled. "Marry, so +would I know, Joshua," he said frankly. + +Joshua shook his head severely. "This is no way to go to work, master. +What, do you think to have the noble lady away this night with never a +plan in your head?" + +"I know not. I've a-many plans, but I move in the dark, my friend, and +I have need to nose about a little. Maybe I shall get her off to-night, +if opportunity serves; maybe I shall hold my hand a while. We will +take the horses in case of need. See a fresh pair saddled, and tell +what lie leaps most readily to your tongue." + +Joshua prepared to depart. "I shall take leave to say, master, that a +man has to be nimble-witted to keep pace with you," he remarked, and +went out. + +Sir Nicholas did not inquire what lie had been told when he came down +twenty minutes later. Joshua had two good horses at the door, and the +landlord seemed satisfied. Sir Nicholas swung his cloak over his arm, +and sallied forth. + +They had not far to go to the spinney Joshua had located. It ran on a +low wall, crumbling and ivy-grown, which shut in the gardens of the +house they sought. The wall was easy enough to come over. The horses +were tethered in a thicket, a hundred yards or more from the road. Sir +Nicholas set a hand on the low wall, and vaulted lightly over; Joshua +climbed after him. + +They found themselves behind a yew hedge that bordered a paved walk. +There were openings cut in it, and through one of these they went, to +the pleasaunce. + +Ahead of them the house loomed up in the darkness; they could see a +light burning through an open window on the ground-floor, and another +in a room above-stairs. For the rest there seemed to be no sign of life +in the house, or else the windows were shuttered. + +"Stay you in the lee of that hedge," Sir Nicholas whispered. "I am +off to see what is to be seen." He slipped past, and was across the +pleasaunce before Joshua could expostulate; bareheaded, a hand on his +sword-hilt. + +Joshua saw him reach the shadow of the house, and lost him then for a +space. Evidently he was making a reconnaissance of those dark windows. +Joshua shivered and drew his cloak more closely about him. + +There was no sound behind the shuttered windows, nor any light +discernible. The place seemed to be strangely quiet, or else this side +of the house was not much inhabited. Sir Nicholas stole along until he +stood beneath the one unshuttered window. Flattening himself against +the wall, he peeped cautiously in. + +The window stood wide to the cool evening air; the room seemed to +be a sort of winter parlour, very elegantly furnished. In a chair +half-turned from the window sat Doña Beatrice de Carvalho, reading from +a gilt-bound volume. + +Sir Nicholas considered her for a moment. Then with a little shrug of +fatalism he set his hands on the sill and noiselessly swung one leg +over. + +Doña Beatrice, yawning over her book, heard a tiny sound, the click +of a scabbard against the stone wall. She turned her head towards the +window, and for once was startled out of her composure. She let fall +her book. + +"I give you a thousand good-morrows, señora," said Sir Nicholas +pleasantly, and came gracefully into the room. + +Doña Beatrice recovered herself. "My dear Chevalier!" she drawled. "Or +should I say my dear Señor Beauvallet?" + +"But were you in doubt?" said Sir Nicholas, one eyebrow up. + +"Very little," she said. She lay back in her chair, placidly regarding +him. "You are a remarkably bold man, señor. I protest I like you. But +what do you hope for here?" + +"To be frank with you, señora, I am here to carry off your niece," said +Sir Nicholas. He walked to the door, opened it, and looked out into the +passage. There was no sign of anyone stirring. He shut the door, and +came back into the room. "And if your charming son is at hand I shall +be happy to cross swords with him," he added. + +She gave a low laugh of pure enjoyment. "You are delightful," she +assured him. "But do you think I shall sit quiet while you perform +these deeds?" + +He smiled disarmingly. "Why, as to that, señora, I am afraid I shall +have to use you rather roughly," he said. "It is not my custom to war +with women, and I should be loth to have you think me a brutal fellow, +but I fear I shall have to tie you up and gag you." The smile grew. "Be +at ease, I shall not hurt you." + +She was perfectly at her ease. "Holy Virgin, a desperate man, I see! +What possessed you to come in at this window, Señor Beauvallet?" + +"It was the only one that stood open," he replied lightly. + +"You might have chanced on my son, señor, instead of me." + +"I had rather hoped that I might," agreed Sir Nicholas. "I am out of +luck." + +Her eyelids drooped. "Yes, señor, you are out of luck; more so than you +know," she said. + +"Am I so, señora?" The blue eyes were watchful now. + +"Sadly, I fear. You will have to be content to talk to me. I confess I +could not have hit upon a more entrancing way of spending this tedious +evening. You see, I am alone in the house but for my servants." + +"You astonish me, señora," said Sir Nicholas, politely incredulous. + +"Pray you search the house if it will set your mind at rest," she +invited. "I am a creature quite without guile. This is a most amusing +situation, do you not find?" + +Sir Nicholas sat down on the edge of a small table near at hand. He +began to play with his pomander, but his eyes never left the lady's +face for all they were so careless-seeming. "It is unexpected," he +admitted. "But then, as you no doubt know, señora, my genius lies in +dealing with the unexpected. Where, dear lady, has your son taken Doña +Dominica?" + +She was prepared for that. "Rather, señor, he has gone in search of +her. Yesterday, not ten miles from here, our equipage was set upon by +brigands, and my niece carried off." + +"Brigands is exactly the word I should myself have chosen," nodded +Sir Nicholas, dangerously sweet. "I understand now why you are in so +much agitation, señora. A grievous thing to have your cherished niece +carried off." His voice changed; he let fall his pomander, and Doña +Beatrice saw that the laughing eyes were like twin swords. "Come, +señora!" he said briskly. "Give me credit for some little measure of +wit! Where has he taken her?" + +"My dear Señor Beauvallet, if he had taken her you would surely not +expect me to tell you," she pointed out. + +Sir Nicholas' brain was working swiftly now. "I think you have told me +all I have need to know," he said. "There is a certain hunting-lodge +not five miles from here, is there not?" + +The faintest shade of alarm, or perhaps is was only of annoyance, +crossed her face. It was enough for Sir Nicholas, watching like a hawk. +"My thanks, señora." He stood up. There was no smile in his eyes now; +they were blazing, and the fine mouth was set hard. + +"You know more than I do, señor," she shrugged. + +He stood looking down at her for a moment; she gave a little laugh, and +looked away. "I know," said Sir Nicholas softly, "that I shall have +rid the earth of a very knave when I rid it of Don Diego de Carvalho. +As for you, señora----" He broke off, and threw up his head, intently +listening. The sound of horses, approaching fast, was heard. He took a +quick step forward, and before she could move had a hand hard clamped +over Doña Beatrice's mouth, the other gripping her shoulder. There +was a sound of trampling round at the front of the house, and at that +moment Joshua's alarmed face peeped over the window-sill. + +The black brows lifted interrogatively. + +"Master, master, King's men!" whispered Joshua. + +He nodded briefly. "Rip me up your cloak. Quick, man!" His hand left +Doña Beatrice's shoulder, and flicked the handkerchief from the sleeve +of his doublet. Without ceremony he forced it into the lady's mouth. +Not afraid, but cynical still, she was able to admire in a detached +way his coolness, and to reflect that she could hardly recognise him +now for the same man who had ruffled it so gaily in Madrid. He had a +ruthless look now; there would be quick death for any who crossed his +path to-night. + +Joshua threw his torn cloak into the room. A thunder of knocks on the +front door in the distance set him shivering again. "For God's sake, +master----!" + +Sir Nicholas answered never a word. With swift, sure movements he +twisted one of the strips of cloth tightly round Doña Beatrice's gagged +mouth, and tied it. Another encircled her body, pinning her arms to +her sides. She made no resistance; over the bandage her eyes looked +mockingly. If the King's men were at hand now El Beauvallet was doomed. + +There was a hurry of footsteps in the passage, servants were running +to the front door. Sir Nicholas bent, passed the third strip round the +lady's wide skirts, and hobbled her tightly. + +"In the King's name!" The peremptory voice reached the parlour; +evidently the front door was open now. + +Sir Nicholas smiled grimly. "Now, señora!" he said, and lifted her +up bodily. She was no light weight, but he carried her easily to the +window. Her eyes no longer mocked; they looked startled now, for this +was indeed the unexpected. + +"Take the lady!" said Sir Nicholas, and lowered her into Joshua's arms. + +"Beshrew your heart, master!" whispered Joshua, staggering under the +burden. "Are you mad in very sooth? Come away, sir! For the love of God +come swiftly!" + +"I come," said Sir Nicholas, and climbed lightly over the sill. He +dropped to the ground, lifted his prisoner from Joshua's straining +arms, and carried her off over his shoulder across the dark pleasaunce +to the low wall, and the spinney beyond. + +"We are sped! we are sped!" almost moaned Joshua. "And you lug the +wrong lady off with us! What now, master? Whither?" + +"To that hunting-lodge," said Sir Nicholas through his teeth. "We shall +leave the wrong lady in the spinney. I do not think they will look +for her there in a hurry." He dumped Doña Beatrice down on the wall, +climbed over, and lifted her up again. She was carried to the thicket +where the horses stood, and set down in the middle of it. Sir Nicholas +untied his horse and gathered the bridle in his hand. A moment he +looked down at Doña Beatrice, glaring up at him. "Señora," he said, "do +not repine at the discomfort of your situation. Had you been a man I +should have killed you." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + +The track through the forest was found, and Beauvallet's horse leaped +forward under the spur. Joshua, pressing up close, looked anxiously +into his master's grimly smiling face. "Master, what is it?" he said +fearfully. + +"Don Diego has had my lady shut up in the lodge since yesterday," said +Sir Nicholas curtly. + +Joshua's jaw dropped. He could understand now why Sir Nicholas wore +his killing look. This was ill news; the very worst that could have +befallen. His stupefaction passed; righteous wrath sprang up. "Ah, +villain! ah, crack-hemp! If we slit not your weasand for this!" + +They galloped on down the track. To either side the great trees reared +up, ghostly in the darkness. The road was good, a grassy ride cut +through the woods. "Well for us it was, for we did not pick our way +daintily, look you," says Joshua. + +Sir Nicholas caught his horse up on a stumble, and turned his head. +"Hard-pressed now, my Joshua," he said, and shook the sword in his +scabbard slightly. + +"In my opinion, master, there is naught new in that," said Joshua +philosophically. + +"How many men, by your reckoning?" + +"Enough to do our business," said Joshua dryly. "But having dumped +the fat lady in the spinney--I allow it to have been politic, upon +reflection--and so shut her mouth, we may yet win clear away." + +"I don't think it," said Sir Nicholas calmly. "They may waste time in +searching for her, but if I read this villainy aright every hilding +on the estate will know where Doña Dominica lies, and send the guards +hot-foot after me there." + +Joshua spoke in a voice of alarm. "Save you, master, save you! do you +lose heart? For if that is so at last then I know we are shent." + +The answering laugh reassured him. "Oh chewet, do you not know when I +am in fighting humour?" + +"I should indeed, sir," acknowledged Joshua. "I make bold to say I find +you dangerous at this present. There will be broken heads and slit +gullets yet." + +They rode on in silence, stirrup to stirrup. Presently Beauvallet spoke +again. "I may have to lead the chase astray a little," he said. "Do you +ride off with my lady by the north-west road to Villanova, and there +await me. You mark me?" + +"Master, do you tell me to desert you?" said Joshua, offended. "That is +not very likely." + +He caught the well-known gleam in Beauvallet's eye. "Oho!" said Sir +Nicholas softly. "Do you command here, my friend? Now I think you will +do as I say, or it may be the worse for you." + +"Pretty treatment, master, by my troth!" said Joshua. "Well, go to: I +do not deny you are the General." + +"If we are overtaken," said Sir Nicholas, ignoring this stricture upon +his ruthless methods, "as I have little doubt we shall be, ride with my +lady hot-foot to Villanova, and there await me. Is it understood?" + +"Well, master, well. And if you come not?" + +"By this hand I shall come!" said Beauvallet. "What, do you fear for +me? Know then that I was never more in the mood to try a throw with +death." + +"That I may very easily believe, sir, and I may add that it does not +set me the more at ease," said Joshua. He peered ahead and reined in to +a walk. "Softly now! What's here?" + +A house loomed up ahead, approached by a wicket-gate giving on to the +track. There was a low building some three hundred yards further on: +stables, Joshua guessed. + +Sir Nicholas slipped from the saddle, and twitched the bridle over his +horse's head. "This should be the place. Follow me now." He led the +way off the track into the gloom of the forest. The moss-grown floor +muffled the sound of the horses' hooves; they skirted the house, and +came round to the back of it, under cover of the trees. The horses +were swiftly tethered to a young sapling. Sir Nicholas unbuckled his +sword-belt, and drew the shining blade clear of its sheath. "No need to +take this to hamper me," he said, and left the scabbard on the ground. +He scanned the back of the house, and saw a lighted window on the upper +storey. "Aha, my bird, do you lie there?" he said. "We shall see anon. +Now I am for you, Don Diego de Carvalho!" + +They went quickly round to the front of the house. Joshua had his +long dagger out, and followed silently in Beauvallet's grim wake. Sir +Nicholas went boldly now, the naked sword in his hand, and hammered on +the door of the lodge with its chased hilt. + +"God's my life, we stalk on our fate now!" muttered Joshua, aghast at +these high-handed measures. + +They heard footsteps approaching inside the house, rather hesitantly. +Sir Nicholas beat again on the door, an imperative summons, and Joshua +took a firmer hold on his weapon. + +The footsteps came nearer; the door was opened a few inches, and Luis, +the valet, looked out. "Who knocks? What do you want?" + +Joshua's arm slid lovingly round his neck; the point of his dagger +pricked the man's throat. "Nay then, my cosset, no sound out of you, or +you are sped," he said softly. + +The man's eyes stared at him, his lips moved soundlessly. + +"Truss him up," said Sir Nicholas, and passed into the lodge. + +There were candles in sconces upon the walls; the stairs ran up to +one side, to the other a door opened hastily. Don Diego came out, a +snatched-up sword in his hand, a look of quick alarm in his face. +"Let none enter!" he said sharply, and then started back. "Jesu!" he +gasped, blanched and shaking. His eyes were wide and staring, looking +fearfully. In the doorway stood El Beauvallet, tall and straight, +fiendishly smiling, like avenging doom wafted thither by most dreadful +witchcraft. + +The candlelight flickered along the blade of El Beauvallet's sword. He +held it between his hands, and bent the supple steel to a half-hoop. +Don Diego's fascinated eyes saw the white teeth gleam. "One has +entered," said Sir Nicholas. He came into the hall, purposeful, a +stalking terror. "I have the honour of presenting myself to you, +señor, in my true guise." He stood in the middle of the hall now, feet +wide planted. "I am El Beauvallet, Don Diego, and I come to seek a +reckoning with you!" His voice rang out; his beard jutted dangerously. + +Don Diego was backed against the wall. "Witchcraft! witchcraft!" he +muttered, and the sword trembled in his hand. + +The chin was upflung, the gay laugh rang amongst the rafters, "Ha, +do you think so indeed, villain?" He let his blade straighten with a +quivering snap, and shook it in Don Diego's face. "Come, pigeon-livered +hound! Here are no arts but my sword to yours. Or will you have me spit +you where you cower? Come, choose quickly! Death waits for one of us +twain to-night, and I am very sure it is not for me!" + +Away up the stairs Dominica knelt behind a locked door with her ear +pressed to the crack. She heard the ringing laugh, and it was as though +joy flooded her whole being. For a moment the world stood still, then +she sprang to her feet, beating on the door with her clenched fists. +"Nicholas! Nicholas! I am here, locked in!" she shrieked. + +He heard her voice and threw up his head. "Cheerly, my bird, cheerly!" +he called. "I shall be with you in a little!" + +She leaned against the door, sobbing and laughing at once. Might she +not have known that he would come, and come in time, too! + +Downstairs in the hall Don Diego had recovered from his first daze of +horror. The colour came back into his cheeks. He tore his dagger from +its sheath, and crouched, facing Beauvallet. "Dog of a pirate! You +shall speed to hell this night!" + +"After you, señor, after you!" said Sir Nicholas blithely, and +caught the thrusting rapier point on his blade. There was a scuffle +of daggers, steel clashed against steel, and Don Diego sprang back, +disengaging over the arm. + +Sir Nicholas drove him rigorously; they circled a little; there was a +lunge, and a dexterous parry, the flash of an upthrust dagger, scurry +of blades, and the quick shifting of light feet on the wooden floor. + +Don Diego fought furiously, lips drawn back in a snarling grimace, +brows close knit. He lunged forward to the heart, was parried by that +lightning blade from the hand of Ferrara, and recovered his guard only +just in time. Sir Nicholas was on his toes; the laugh was back in his +eyes, and on his lips; larger issues were forgot in the present joy +of battle. He had made no idle boast to his brother when he had said +he was a master of the art of foining with the point. Don Diego had +thought himself no mean swordsman, but he knew himself outmatched. +This man, sprung on wires; this devil who laughed as he lunged, had a +dashing skill that brought Diego face to face with death a dozen times. +He was fighting for very life, and he had thought to run through his +opponent almost at once. + +"Laugh, laugh, dog!" he gasped, beating aside that flickering blade for +an instant. "You shall laugh soon in hell!" + +"Go warn them there of my coming, señor," said Sir Nicholas gaily, and +seemed to quicken. + +The fight grew more desperate; Don Diego was losing ground, and knew +it. It was all he could do to keep that dancing sword-point at bay, +and ever he fell back before it. The point quivered to his throat; he +sprang back, was forced on further still, hard-breathing, sweating, but +fighting every inch of the way. + +Faintly in the distance came the thud of galloping horses. Joshua's +voice called urgently: "Master, master, make an end!" + +Don Diego thrust viciously to the heart. "You shall go +hence--shackled!" he gasped. + +The steel blades hissed together; one of them snaked out in a straight +lunge, driven by a strong wrist. "_My bite is sure!_" quoth Sir +Nicholas, and wrenched his sword free of the deep wound. + +Don Diego's weapon fell clattering; he threw up his hands with a +choking sound, and pitched forward on to his face. + +The thud of the horses' hooves was drawing nearer; Sir Nicholas was +down on his knee, turning Don Diego over. The black eyes were glazing +fast, but gleamed hatred still. Sir Nicholas felt in the elegant +doublet, found the key he sought, and sprang up. + +Joshua ran in. "Trapped, trapped!" he cried. "They are hard on us!" + +"Round with you to the back!" Beauvallet answered instantly. "Wait +beneath my lady's window, and when I send her down to you, off with +you!" + +Joshua made a gesture of despair and ran out. Plainly to be heard now +were the galloping hooves. + +Sir Nicholas went bounding up the stairs. "Where, my heart, where?" he +called. + +Her voice led him to the door. He fitted the key into the lock and +turned it, listening to the thunder of hooves drawing closer and ever +closer. + +The door was open, and Dominica sobbing on his breast. + +"You are safe?" he asked urgently. + +"Safe! safe!" she answered. + +"God be praised!" He put her quickly aside and strode to the bed. The +heavy quilt was flung off, the sheets snatched up and knotted. "The +chase is hard upon me. I must let you down through your window, my +bird." He jerked at his knot. The horses were at hand, and trampling +now as they were pulled up outside the lodge. Sir Nicholas reached the +window, "Joshua?" + +"Ready, master!" came the stealthy whisper. + +He turned. "Come, fondling! Trust me to let you safely down." + +She let him lift her on to the window-ledge, but her hands clung to +him. Downstairs blows were being rained on the shut door. "But you? But +you?" + +"Never fear," he said. His voice was cool and reassuring. "Twist the +sheet about your hands, so, and hold fast, child. Brave lass! Are you +ready?" + +Clinging tightly to her improvised rope she was lowered over the sill, +hung dangling on the end of the sheet, and was let down into Joshua's +ready arms. He set her down, caught her hand, and led her away at the +double across the garden to the hedge that shut it off from the forest. + +"Hist, hist for your life!" he breathed. "Do as I bid you, mistress, +and not a word out of you!" + +Behind them the guards were in at the door of the lodge, stumbling over +Don Diego's body. + +"Ah, he has been here, the villain!" cried Cruza. "He is here still! +Search the house!" + +Upstairs Beauvallet tore the key from the lock of Dominica's door, and +fitted it in again on the inside. He pulled the door to behind him just +as Cruza came bounding up the stairs, a drawn sword in his hand. + +"Well met, Señor Cruza!" said Beauvallet cheerfully, and held sword and +dagger ready. + +Cruza sent a shout echoing through the house. "To me! to me!" + +The men came stamping up the stairs. "Why, what a pack of you!" said +Sir Nicholas, amused. + +"Yield you, señor!" Cruza cried. "You are outmatched!" + +"Yield?" said Sir Nicholas. Up went his comical eyebrow. "God's Son, +Cruza, do you know who I am?" + +"You are El Beauvallet, and I have sworn to take you! We are six to +your one. Yield, yield!" + +"You will be forsworn, good señor. I am El Beauvallet, so the odds are +fair enough. Now who will take Nick Beauvallet?" He looked inquiringly, +and wondered whether Joshua had got Dominica away yet. + +"Insolent dog!" Cruza dashed in with levelled sword. "On to him, and +take him alive!" he cried. + +Sir Nicholas' blade swept a circle before him. He laughed and shook +the sweat from his eyes. "Alas, alas, for vain ambition! So-so! What, +winded, my man?" A guard fell back with a slash across the forearm. +Sir Nicholas beat down a big double-edged sword, and slipped his +dagger-hand behind him, feeling for the handle of the door. + +The Toledo blade bit shrewdly and sure indeed. Cruza staggered as the +point went home in his shoulder, and recovered again. "Alive! I want +him alive!" he gasped out. + +Sir Nicholas' fingers had found the door-handle, and turned it now in +one quick movement. The door was flung open; he sprang back, fighting +his way, sent the foremost guard sprawling with a wound in the breast, +and slammed the door home behind him. + +Cruza threw himself upon it, thrusting with all his might. "Quick, +fools!" he cried, and heard the key grate in the lock. "Two of you down +into the garden, under the window!" he jerked out. "Break down this +door, you others! Break it down!" + +Two of the guards went running down the stairs and round to the back; +the rest set their shoulders to the door. The lock gave under the +weight, the door flew wide, and the guards were in. + +The room was empty. An overturned chair lay a-sprawl by the window; a +casement swung open on its hinge, and the curtain beside it was rent +from end to end. + +With one accord his men followed Cruza to the window and tried to crane +out. From the arras behind the door Sir Nicholas slipped out, kissed +his fingers silently to the backs of the guards, and was off without a +sound across the upper hall to the stairs. + +He went down in a series of bounds, reached the hall, and stepped over +Don Diego's body to the door. A beam of light cast through the opening +showed him a guard standing to the horses' heads. He went forward in a +rush then, and his sword-hilt took the guard on the chin almost before +he was aware, and sent him sprawling in the road. Sir Nicholas caught a +bridle, vaulted into the saddle, and stood up in his stirrups. + +"Come then, ye dogs!" he cried. "Follow El Beauvallet if ye dare, and +take _Reck Not_ for the word!" He wheeled about as the two guards came +dashing round the corner of the house, and galloped off down the way by +which he had come, eastwards towards the Frontier. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + +The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily +enough to the clap of heels to his flanks. Sir Nicholas held him on his +course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of +the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who +held them, and pressed on. The noise died away, only the pounding of +the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness. + +Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering +and listening. The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought +had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, +a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves. Lanterns +bobbed and twinkled amongst them, but the moon was coming up, and a +faint grey light already made the lanterns superfluous. + +Sir Nicholas saw what awaited him, and rode down into the small crowd +like a thunderbolt. There was a surge forward to cut him off, a flurry +of agitated shouting, and the scurry of feet, and the bay horse was +amongst them. Confusion reigned, some trying to fling themselves out +of the way of the plunging hooves, others striking wildly at the lithe +figure atop of the maddened horse. The bay was rearing and snorting +with fright, wrenched aside to evade a murderous blow from a club, +backing into a group of peasants, who gave precipitately, gripped by an +insistent pair of knees. Sir Nicholas' sword flashed aloft, wielded +like a flail. He forced a way through, the serfs falling back before +his irresistible path, tumbling over one another in their haste to get +away from this demon's reach. The hand on the bridle was slackened, the +bay horse was away, ridden hard to the south, towards the track that +led eastwards to the Frontier. + +There were men on the road, dotted here and there, stragglers hurrying +to see the capture of a pirate; they sprang aside instinctively to +give place to the mad, runaway horse that bore down on them, and saw +in the grey light a straight rider with a naked sword in his hand. +Some crossed themselves, some yelled an alarm, but no one offered El +Beauvallet hindrance. + +The road to the east was found; Sir Nicholas forced the bay in to a +more sober pace, and turned down the track. By the shout that was +raised behind him he knew that his way was marked. The villagers might +be trusted to direct the soldiers aright. Sir Nicholas settled down +to a canter, feeling his way, as it were, along the track. The ground +seemed level enough, grown over here and there with sparse, shifting +turf. To either side scrubby bushes were scattered, with a few trees +rearing up amongst them. + +Behind came gradually the muffled sound of the pursuit. Sir Nicholas +spurred on, mile upon mile, left the road for the flat pasture-land +that ran beside it, and galloped on, the sound of his flight deadened +by the soft earth. The curtal horse shook his fine head a little, +feeling a race in the air as the hand on his bridle slackened, +lengthened his easy stride, and took hold of the bit in good earnest. + +The trees grew more thickly now, oaks, Sir Nicholas guessed, and +presently a black wall seemed to rise up ahead. The track curved +slightly, and plunged into a great forest of oak trees. The branches, +in full leaf, shut out the moonlight from the depths of the forest; +only the track was faintly illuminated where the silver light filtered +through the almost interlocking branches. + +Sir Nicholas reined in, head up and ears straining, listening. Faintly, +very far away, came the sound of horses on the road. + +He swung himself down from the saddle, passed a hand over the bay's +steaming neck, and led him into the dusk of the forest. + +The horse was restless and fidgeting, but a gentling hand stilled him +after a while. He stood quiet, stretched down his neck, and began +lipping at some fallen leaves on the ground. + +Nearer and nearer, like approaching thunder came the sound of horses +on the road, ridden desperately. Up came the bay's head; the ears went +forward. Sir Nicholas' hand slid to the satin nose; the pursuit sounded +closer still, and Sir Nicholas' long fingers gripped tightly, checking +the imminent whinny. + +The riders swept up and past; they were so close Sir Nicholas could +hear the horses' hard breathing and the creak of the saddle-girths. He +held tight to the bay's nose, and waited for the soldiers to pass. + +They were gone in a moment, riding close-wedged, hell-for-leather. In a +little while all sound of them had died; they were away, making for the +Frontier road, and it would take a deal to stop them with their dogged +purpose firm in their minds. + +Sir Nicholas relaxed his grip on the bay's nose and laughed. "Oh, ye +bisson fools!" he said. "Ride on, ride on: ye will have but a cold +welcome at the end. So, boy, so!" He led the bay back on to the road, +mounted again, and set him at an easy canter along the track towards +Vasconosa. + + * * * * * + +Dominica, tossed up on to a horse before Joshua, clung tight by the +saddle-bow, and tried to speak. Joshua's hand covered her mouth +imperatively; he struck off through the wood at a walking pace, making +westwards. + +As soon as he judged it to be safe he bore round a little to meet the +track again, came upon it some quarter of a mile beyond the lodge, and +kicked his horse to a gallop. + +Dominica tried to see his face. "No, no, back, I say! back! What, will +you leave him? Coward! Oh, base! Back to him, I implore you!" + +Joshua torn with anxiety, sore at his enforced flight, was in no humour +to be patient. "Rest you, mistress, we must make Villanova." + +She leaned forward to tug at the bridle. "You are leaving him to be +slain! Turn, turn! Oh dastard, cur, craven!" + +"Ho! Fine holiday and lady terms these!" said Joshua, bristling. "Know +then, mistress, that were it not for you I would be beside Sir Nicholas +now, and had liefer be there, God wot! A plague on all women, say I! +What, do I bear you off for my pleasure? Out, out, señorita! These are +my master's orders, and an evil day it is that hears him give such +ones. Let go the rein, I tell you!" + +Her fingers were on his bridle hand, clinging, cajoling. "No, no, I did +not mean it, but turn, Joshua! For the love of God, set me down and go +you back! I will lie close, I will do as you bid me, only go you back +to aid Sir Nicholas!" + +"And get a broken head for my pains," said Joshua. "My master's an ill +man to cross, señorita. Nay, nay, we who sail with Laughing Nick must +do as we are bid, come weal, come woe. Content you, he has his plans +well laid, I warrant you." + +Words tumbled from her lips. She begged, stormed, commanded and coaxed. +"I am not the worth of his life!" she said again and again. + +"Well, I doubt there would be a fine reckoning between us if Sir +Nicholas heard me agree with you," remarked Joshua. "Therefore I keep a +still tongue in my head." + +"God knows what I said or did not say upon that ride," he afterwards +recounted. "Maybe my mistress and I bandied some hard words to and fro, +but I bore her no malice, nor did she ever after hold it against me. +Which is something remarkable in a woman, I hold." + +No sound of pursuit came after them; Joshua allowed his horse to +slacken the pace somewhat, and presently drew in to a steady trot. +Dominica was quiet now, but her face looked pinched in the moonlight. +Joshua, himself not much lighter-hearted, was moved to offer words of +comfort. "Cheerly, mistress, we shall have Sir Nicholas with us this +night." + +She turned her eyes towards him. "How can he fight all those men +single-handed?" + +"Mark me, if he does not fob them off with some trick," said Joshua +stoutly. "Maybe you did not believe that he would break free of that +prison, señorita, but he did it. Keep a good heart." He saw her clouded +eyes. "By your good leave, mistress, and with respect, I would say that +El Beauvallet's lady should wear a smiling face." + +She did smile, but faintly. "Yes, she should indeed," she answered. She +bit her lip. "I saw him for so fleeting a moment!" + +"Patience, mistress; I am bold to say you will hear the bustle of his +coming in a little while." + +They came to Villanova past ten o'clock at night and fetched up at the +inn. "More lies!" said Joshua. "Leave all to me, lady." He lifted her +down from the saddle and proceeded to create a stir. "Ho, there! Room +for the noble señora! What, I say! Landlord!" + +A portly individual came out of the lighted taproom and stared in +amazement at Dominica. She reflected that she must look oddly enough, +riding over the countryside at such an hour without cloak or hood or +even horse. + +"The good-year!" cried out Joshua, voluble. "Eh me, but this has +been an evening's work! A chamber for my mistress, and supper on the +instant! The noble señor follows us close." + +The landlord's eyes slowly ran over Dominica. "What's this?" he said +suspiciously. + +Doña Dominica stepped forward; she, too, could play a part. "A chamber, +landlord, and at once," she said haughtily. "Do you keep me standing in +the road?" + +Joshua bowed his lady into the inn. "Brigands, man!" he shot over his +shoulder. "A party of three, and my lady's horse shot under her. Ah, +what an ill-chance!" + +"Brigands? Jesu preserve us!" The landlord crossed himself. "But the +señor?" + +"Oh, be sure my master is on the villains' heels!" Joshua invented. +"'What,' cries he, 'shall this go unpunished?' The rogues made off +with our sumpters, and nothing will do but my master must give +chase, leaving me to get the gracious señora under cover. Oh, a very +fire-eater!" + +Dominica interposed in the voice of one accustomed to command. "A +bedchamber with your best speed, host, and supper against Don Tomas' +coming." + +Her tone had its calculated effect. She was evidently a lady of +quality, and as such the landlord bowed to her. That he was suspicious, +however, was plain. + +"And well he might be!" said Joshua Dimmock. "An unlikely tale, I grant +you, but by this time I was grown barren of lies, a very uncommon thing +in me." + +Doña Dominica was shown upstairs to a chamber of fair size and +appointments. She sank into a chair, and said pettishly for the benefit +of the landlord: "It was you who should have chased those knaves, +Pedro." She hunched a shoulder. "Don Tomas is too impetuous. To send +me off so, and himself to tarry!" She became aware of the puzzled +landlord. "Well, fellow, well? What do you want?" she demanded. + +He bowed himself out, assuring her that supper should be provided +against her lord's coming. A glimpse of a double ducat negligently +fingered by Joshua decided him to keep his suspicions in abeyance. +Double ducats were not so plentiful in this village that a man could +afford to run the risk of losing one. + +Joshua nodded briskly, and made a significant gesture of a down-thrust +thumb. "We shall do very well," he said. "Now, señorita, with your good +leave I shall go get the pack from off my nag's back. I must hope that +Sir Nicholas brings on his own jennet, for the most of his raiment is +upon it, and I can very plainly hear him calling in the morn for a +clean shirt and a clean ruff too." + +He took Beauvallet's coming so much for granted that Dominica began to +feel that he would come indeed. She laughed, and looked down at her +tumbled riding dress. "A clean ruff for Sir Nicholas! Pray you, what +will you do for me who have no clothes at all but what you see me in?" + +Joshua shook his head. "A very pungent question, señora, I allow. This +should have been looked to. But thus it is ever when my master is in +this humour! I doubt he will have lost his pack and that scabbard +beside. But there is never any ho with him. Reck Not! Ah, do I not know +it? In we dash, and if we come off with our skins you may say it is a +miracle." + +He went down to collect his pack, to see his horse stabled, and fed, +and to order a rear-banquet for the lady. She was served in her +chamber, and the covers left on the table against Beauvallet's coming. +The landlord had by this time very little doubt but that he entertained +noble guests. What their mysterious errand was he could not guess, +though he was inclined, saving only the incomprehensible absence of the +master, to suspect an elopement. But Joshua's demeanour alone convinced +him of the quality of the lady he served. None but a great noble's +man, thought the landlord, would show such a high hand as Joshua's. +There must be a cold capon prepared against his master's coming. +What, had he no better wine than this poor stuff? Let him make haste +to his cellar and fetch up a bottle of the best he had. Where were the +suckets? Was my lady to sit down at table to naught but a scraggy fowl +and a neat's tongue? Out upon him! The landlord should learn that a +lady of his mistress' standing was not to be so used. + +He waited upon Dominica himself, and was inclined to be severe with her +when she showed so little appetite. She looked up at him with large, +frightened eyes. "He does not come," she said. + +"Patience, patience, señorita, he is not a bird!" said Joshua testily. +"If he got away he was to lead the Guards off on a wrong scent towards +the Frontier. It would never do to have them on our heels, mistress, +for you cannot ride as we might have to in such a strait." + +"I can ride very well if I am allowed," she said meekly. + +Time wore on. A few last loiterers in the taproom went off homewards; +candles were snuffed below stairs, and the inn grew quiet. Joshua had +bespoken a chamber for his master, and a fire to be lit in Dominica's +room, judging with some shrewdness that its friendly crackle and glow +would do more to comfort her than any words of his. + +She sat by it trying to keep her courage up, and from time to time +looked anxiously at Joshua. She would not have him leave her; she would +not hear of going to bed for all his pleading. He might bully and +override her in most things, she said, but he could not make her rest +until she knew Sir Nicholas to be safe. + +"I shall take leave to say, señorita, that there is a long day ahead +of you, and you would do well to get what sleep you may." + +"I will not!" she said, her old spirit rearing up its head. And there +the matter rested. + +It was close on midnight when they heard the sound of an approaching +horseman. Joshua lifted a finger and threw out his chest. "Ah, señora! +ah! What said I? Ho, trust Beauvallet!" He went to the window and +pushed it open. + +Dominica was on her feet, clasping her hands, "It may not be. It may be +a soldier in search of me. I cannot think...." + +The horse was reined in under the window. "Holà, there!" rang out +Beauvallet's voice. He looked up at the front of the inn and saw Joshua +craning from the window. "God's Death, Joshua, what makes you there? +Come down and let me in!" + +Dominica sank back into her chair, almost stunned with relief. Joshua +was making for the door. "Ay, ay, thus it goes," he said. "Briskly, +recklessly, with never a thought to who may be listening. Ah, madcap!" +He went out, and Dominica heard him clatter down the stairs and draw +back the bolts of the door below, shouting to the awakened landlord as +he did so that all was well. Then a light step sounded on the stairs, +the door was opened, and the next instant Dominica was folded in +Beauvallet's arms. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + +They were up at cock-crow next morning, and away upon their long ride +north just as soon as they had broken their fast, and procured fresh +horses. + +Dominica felt herself to be moving in a dream; events had marched so +swiftly that she was dazed by them. She awoke to hear Joshua scratching +on her door, and for a moment imagined the previous day's wild work to +be a figment of her fancy. But Joshua's voice, unmistakably his brisk +voice, was bidding her rise up, and she knew herself to be living in no +dream. + +Breakfast in a small parlour leading off the taproom downstairs awaited +her. She found Sir Nicholas there, neat as ever, and because she was +suddenly shy and tongue-tied she could only give him her little hand +to kiss, and say in a voice that tried to hide her shyness: "Ah, Señor +Nicholas, I see you have that clean ruff Joshua spoke of, so I suppose +you did not leave your pack behind." + +He flung up a hand. "A' God's Name, let me hear no more of that pack!" +he said in comic dismay. "I have heard of little else from that +tickle-brain behind you since my coming last night." + +She looked round at Joshua's disapproving face. Joshua pulled out +a stool for her from under the table, but fixed a wintry look upon +Sir Nicholas. "Ay, master, no doubt it is very well to talk in such +careless wise, but I shall take leave to say that to throw away a +new doublet of murry taffeta and a pair of stocks broidered with +gold quirks about the ankles, not to make mention of a set of silver +aiglets and a pair of trunk hose scarce worn, passeth the bounds of +prodigality." + +"Peace, froth!" said Sir Nicholas, and sat him down opposite to his +lady at the table. His eyes smiled at her across the covers. "It is in +my mind, ladybird, that we have not sat at table together since you +were aboard the _Venture_." The twinkle deepened. "Do you remember that +you were loth to take wine from my hands?" He picked up the bottle at +his elbow and regarded it with uplifted brows. "You might well be loth +to take this from me," he remarked. "What is it, Joshua?" + +"Scarce potable, I allow," said Joshua gloomily. "A very vile drink, +sir, but what would you?" + +Dominica's tongue became loosened. She must tell Sir Nicholas of the +curious fancy that had come to her when Don Diego offered her wine of +Alicante, and when that was done she found she had left her shyness +behind her. + +The horses were saddled and ready. As Dominica set her foot in +Beauvallet's hand she looked saucily at Joshua, and said: "Now, Joshua, +you shall see whether I can ride hard or no." + +She showed her mettle that day; she had done with fears and doubts. +While she rode with Sir Nicholas at her side there could be nothing to +alarm her. She had doubted that he would not reach Madrid, and he had +done so; she had been sure that he could not escape from prison, and +he had escaped; she had feared that he would not survive yesterday's +grim work, and here he was, safe and gay as ever. She could never again +doubt his extraordinary faculty of coming off safe from seemingly +hopeless traps. + +There seemed to be no peril now. Joshua might sniff the air, and keep +an ear cocked to the rearward, but Sir Nicholas, leading the way over +the hills, was care-free and merry. So, too, would his lady be, then. + +The long journey taxed her powers to the uttermost, but she would not +admit her weariness. She sat as straight as she could, laughed at the +bad road, swore she was very well content, and had no wish to rest +her limbs. They lost the way; why, it was part of the adventure, and +her Nicholas would soon find it again; her horse stumbled on a craggy +mountain-side and nearly came down with her: let them not worry, she +was safe enough; the sun was scorchingly hot: why, she was used to a +hot clime, and would take no hurt. + +Joshua was moved to admiration. "With good leave," he said, "I may +remark that the señorita bears herself like an Englishwoman." + +"This is to praise you, child," said Sir Nicholas, amused. + +She nodded and laughed, and grew pink. "I shall very shortly be one, +Señor Pirate, shall I not?" she said, and peeped at him. + +His hand closed on hers. "My heart!" + +They had to travel 'cross country where roads failed them, and this +meant slow going for the most part, for the way was very rough, and +they had need to study the rough plans Sir Nicholas had made. The +shadows were lengthening long before they came within sight of the sea, +and Joshua began to fret. He pushed up alongside to gain Beauvallet's +ear. "Master, we shall never make it in time," he whispered. + +Dominica caught the whisper. "Then let us press on," she said. "We +must have Señor Nicholas away to-night without fail." + +That made Beauvallet laugh, and even drew a smile from Joshua. This, +however, he quickly suppressed. "The señorita speaks wisely," he said. +"Rare to junket about Spain singing catches as though we were at +Alreston, but I would take leave to remind you, master, that you are a +hunted man." + +"Oh, wind-bag," said Sir Nicholas genially, "if I could make better way +be sure I should. Broken knees won't serve us. We shall make that port +this night." + +Make it they did, but later than they had hoped for, losing their road +in the darkness, and only finding it again after much casting about. +Dominica swayed in the saddle, upheld whenever it was possible by a +strong, tireless arm, but when she heard Joshua swearing amongst the +boulders she could still laugh, though it was but a weary, would-be +valiant little laugh. + +They saw the lights of the tiny port ahead; Sir Nicholas snuffed the +air. "I can smell the sea," he said. "Courage, my bird!" + +Her head drooped against his shoulder. He made a movement to summon up +Joshua upon his other side. + +"Walk warily now," he said in a low voice. "If word was sent to the +ports to stop our passage, those at Santander will know very well where +to look for us." + +Joshua started. "God's me, I had not thought of that! Ay, they would +remember how you landed there." + +A drowsy voice spoke from Beauvallet's shoulder. "Oh yes, they would +never forget. We stayed with the Governor of Santander the day after +you set us ashore, and I would you could have heard him." + +Sir Nicholas looked significantly at Joshua. Joshua stifled a groan, +and shrugged. "A posse of soldiers, I dare swear. I might have guessed +we were not yet out of the trap." He looked up at the cloudy sky. +"What o'clock? Nay, how shall we say? It but remains to find no ship +awaiting. What, would she stay right through the night? One cannot +suppose it. She will sniff the dawn at hand and be off." + +"Dawn, stock-fish?" said Sir Nicholas. "If it is past eleven you may +call me a dolt." + +"I have a better regard for my skin, master," said Joshua, with dignity. + +They gave a wide berth to the cluster of cottages that formed the port, +and pricked their way cautiously down the hill towards the sound of +the sea lapping on the shingle. It was very dark, and the ground was +strewed with rocks and hillocks and patches of stones. Sir Nicholas +reined in his horse and turned in the saddle to speak to Joshua. "We +make nothing by this. We shall do best to tether the nags and go on +afoot." + +Joshua nodded and slid down from the saddle. Sir Nicholas was on the +ground, and already lifting Dominica down. Her legs almost gave way +under her; she staggered and caught at his hand. He would have lifted +her in his arms, but she shook her head. "No, no, I would rather walk. +I am only so stiff." + +They went forward, Joshua close behind them with the lantern he had +bought that morning in Villanova. Somewhere below them the waves were +breaking gently on the beach; the ground shelved steeply towards it. +Sir Nicholas stopped. "Light the lantern, Joshua," he said softly. + +Joshua knelt to open it. He looked up. "Master, a cloak to hide the +light." + +Sir Nicholas swung the cloak from his shoulders and held it round both +Joshua and the lamp. Joshua was busy with his tinder-box; a spark +flared, and the wick caught. + +Dominica felt numb with fatigue still. She sank down on a convenient +rock and watched Joshua tending his lamp under cover of the cloak. The +wash of the sea sounded like a lullaby; she wondered whether, somewhere +to the north in the velvety darkness the _Venture_ lurked. They seemed +so alone in the world in this silence of the night that it hardly +seemed possible. Down by the huts men might be stirring, but here on +the shelving stony ground all was silent, hushed by the sea. + +Sir Nicholas looked keenly round, peering through the darkness. For +as far as he could see there was no one abroad. Come what might, the +signal must be given. He took the lamp from Joshua and held it high +above his head. Then he dipped it quickly, and cloaked it while a man +might count twenty. Again he showed it, and yet a third time. + +There was a pause. "Oh knaves, if ye be not there!" muttered Joshua. +"Oh, Master Dangerfield, I do not trust you!" + +Away to the north out of the blackness shone a pin-point of light three +times. The _Venture_ had answered the signal. + +"Ha, true men!" said Joshua in high fettle. "I would wager young Master +Dangerfield against an hundred!" + +His wrist was clamped hard. "Silence, man!" hissed Sir Nicholas, and +threw up his head to listen. + +Joshua stiffened like a dog. To the west of them had come a shout, +muffled by the wash of the sea. + +"God's Death, they've posted a sentry on the look-out!" muttered Sir +Nicholas, and pulled his long dagger from its sheath. + +Joshua had his head under the cloak blowing out the lantern. Heavy +footsteps were approaching at a jog-trot. Sir Nicholas went forward +into the night noiseless and swift. + +A man loomed up out of the darkness with a levelled halberd. He was on +to Beauvallet before he realized it, and went down with no more than a +groan as the dagger struck home. + +"Ha, neatly done!" said Joshua, not above a whisper, and with complete +satisfaction. He put up his own weapon, which he had snatched out as he +ran after his master. + +But in the distance another cry sounded, as though a fellow-soldier +answered that first call. + +Sir Nicholas was back at Dominica's side wiping his dagger. "More of +them," he said grimly. "The Governor of Santander has my compliments." +He swept Dominica up into his arms. "Lie still, fondling," he said. +"Naught to fear yet awhile. Down to the beach, Joshua, and on your life +no sound!" + +He was off into the darkness as he spoke. Joshua crept after, murmuring +to himself. "Naught to fear, forsooth! Well-a-day, well-a-day! and we +with the whole pack like to be on us at any minute now! The fiend seize +these stones!" + +They were halfway down the steep hillside, skirting rocks, slipping +on loose stones. Above, on the higher ground, came the crack of an +arquebus fired into the air. + +"Ha!" muttered Joshua. "That may be a signal to the rest of the pack, +but I warrant it will bring our men on fast! I shall die in my bed yet. +Courage, Joshua!" He felt level sands under his feet, and quickened +his steps to come up with Sir Nicholas, lost in the darkness. Behind, +on the high ground, footsteps were running and voices could be heard +calling to one another. From the huts to the west came also a stir. +Lights showed bobbing on the path above. The hunt was up. + +Dominica was set on her feet by the water's edge. Sir Nicholas wrenched +his fretful sword from the scabbard, watching those moving lights as +they came nearer, wobbling down the slope, outlining the forms of armed +men. + +The soldiers were casting about now from the looks of it. In the +glimmer of the few lanterns Beauvallet could see them peering and +searching with halberds levelled. There was but a handful of them, but +enough to settle the account of two Englishmen; and from the huts, +along the path upon the hill, more were coming to their assistance. + +Joshua had waded out into the water, striving to catch the sound of +oars. He came back and touched Beauvallet's arm. "To the right, master, +I think." + +Sir Nicholas took Dominica's hand and followed. The faint sound of oars +grew more distinct; others beside themselves had heard it. From further +up the beach came a shout of command, and a surge of some four or five +men towards the water. + +"Row, ye devils, row!" groaned Joshua, fairly dancing with impatience. + +The soldiers were slipping and stumbling over the shingle; from the +dark water came a lusty shout; they could hear Dangerfield's clear +voice raised: "Pull, sluggards, pull!" Then the richer voice of the +boatswain came to them, chanting in imitation of a waterman: "Heave and +ho! rumbelow!" + +It was a race now grimmer than any that had been, a race between that +boat cleaving desperately through the water and the soldiers pelting +down to cut off the fugitives. Joshua stayed peering out to sea to spy +the boat, but Sir Nicholas had his back turned and waited, drawn sword +in hand, to check the rush from the land. + +The splash of oars was close now; another moment and Joshua saw the +boat come nosing shoreward. Behind him the foremost of the soldiers had +run on his doom, and Sir Nicholas' sword was red. But now lusty seamen +were wading ashore, jostling each other to be the first to reach land, +and the air was rent by solid English oaths. The handful of soldiers +on the beach drew back. They had courage enough, but lacked a leader, +and it was plain that a sprinkling of soldiers could not hope to stand +against this troop of bloodthirsty seamen. They fell back then and sent +up a mighty yell to warn their comrades that there was need of haste. +But the party from the huts was not yet at hand, though it was coming +with all possible speed to the rescue. + +"Ha, rogues!" shrieked Joshua. "In a good hour!" + +"Beauvallet and spare not!" sang out the boatswain, and reached the +sands with a splash and a bound. "How fares your honour?" + +"Rarely!" laughed Sir Nicholas. + +Master Dangerfield was at his elbow. "My God, sir, you have made it!" +he cried, and grasped at Beauvallet's hand. + +There was a fight in the air, all around the murmur of it. "Ho, Spanish +Papishers!" a voice growled. "Now see what comes to those who chase our +Nick!" + +A second voice bawled out cheerfully: "Ay, have at 'em, lads!" and +there was a surge forward up the beach. + +Sir Nicholas was only just in time to stop it. "Back, ye rogues!" + +The rush was checked, but there was dissatisfaction abroad. The +_Venture's_ crew had been spoiling for a fight all this past fortnight +of weary waiting; the excuse was provided, the men were elated, and +it was felt that those who had the temerity to harry the _Venture's_ +commander needed to be taught a lesson. + +"What, not one blow, sir?" said the boatswain reproachfully. + +Sir Nicholas was amongst his refractory crew. "Back, dogs! Man me that +boat!" He beat them back with the flat of his sword. "By God, I will +have you all in irons if you man me not that boat!" he swore cheerfully. + +There was a chuckle, a concerted move seawards; daggers were slid home +in their sheaths. Somewhere near her Dominica heard a rough voice say +appreciatively: "Ho-ho! The General's back amongst us! I'm for the +boat." + +They manned the boat. They were disappointed at this tame ending, but +it was held to be unhealthy for a man to go against the General's +orders. His ungrateful behaviour upon being rescued by his faithful +crew rather pleased them. Easy to see Mad Nick was himself still! There +was a cheer raised. + +The bulk of the soldiers were pelting down the slope of the steep hill +now. Sir Nicholas lifted Dominica high in his arms and waded out last +of all to the boat. + +The crew became aware of the lady, and let another cheer. Many hands +were eager to receive her into the boat, foremost amongst them those of +Master Hick who had once had his face roundly slapped by her. She stood +unsteadily, a hand on one fustian shoulder, the other lost in a great +paw. + +Sir Nicholas climbed into the boat and waved farewell to Spain. "Give +way!" he commanded, and the long oars dipped in the water. + +Slowly they drew away, until the lanterns on the shore receded in the +distance, and the last sounds from Spain died. + +Dominica, crouched in the stern, stole her hand into Beauvallet's. His +fingers closed over it; he looked down at her, and she caught the flash +of his white teeth. "Safe now, fondling." + +She nodded and sighed her content. Behind her, at the tiller, young +Dangerfield spoke bashfully. "And a warm welcome for you aboard, +señorita, be sure." + +She smiled at him, but was too tired to speak. The boat cleaved on +through the dark water until the tall sides of the _Venture_ reared +up before it, and they heard excited voices, and saw the light of a +lantern dangled over the side. + +"Safe? Have you brought the General off?" shouted the Master anxiously. + +The crew let as hearty a cheer as they could for their somewhat winded +condition, and something very like a yell of triumph went up from those +aboard the _Venture_. + +Dominica was carried up the rope ladder and kissed at the top. +"Welcome, my bride!" Beauvallet said in her ear, and set her on her +feet. + +Men seemed to surge around them, questioning, congratulating. There was +some display of thanksgiving, not unmixed with many a "Said I not so?" +apparently addressed to those who had doubted Sir Nicholas' ability to +dupe all Spain. + +Beauvallet shouldered a way for himself and his lady through this +excited crowd with a laugh and a jest flung carelessly. Dominica found +herself confronting a small neat gentleman whom Sir Nicholas clapped on +the shoulder. "Save you, Master Cooper!" he said. "I have work for you, +as I promised." + +"Sir Nicholas"--the neat man wrung his hand--"I count this escape +as not less than one of God's miracles, and a sign to these Spanish +Papists--a veritable Sign! What may I do to serve you?" + +"You may marry me, Master Parson," said Sir Nicholas Beauvallet. + + + + + EPILOGUE + + +"And so we came off," says Joshua Dimmock, sure of the last word. "You +say a miracle? Ho, we do not count such trifles as miraculous in my +master's service! Yet I allow it to have been a feat, and do not look +upon my own part in it as contemptible. Sir Nicholas owned himself +to be somewhat in my debt: a very unusual thing in him, I may say. +However, we had some talk together whiles I was trussing his points +that next day in his cabin, and 'Joshua, my man,' says he, 'be sure you +are a rogue and a wind-bag, but I owe you some thanks for this month's +work.' This was very acceptable to me, as you may be sure, not less so +than a certain token that went with it. I wear it upon my finger to +this day. Ay, a rare stone: it came out of the Indies. + +"But I run on. Sir Nicholas having said as much, and more, and maybe +puffed me up a very little in mine own esteem--for I took no account of +certain holiday terms such as toss-pot and hemp-seed that went with his +words, these being no more than the genial way he uses--he did me the +honour to inform me that he was to be married that morning. + +"A rare morning's work, I warrant you! with the crew grinning and +looking slyly--until I spoke with them. It was enough. I was become a +man of some account, which was not marvellous. + +"There was Master Dangerfield at that bridal, the ship's Master, our +surgeon, and myself. Be sure I was bidden, and rightly so, for setting +aside some other small matters, I was so near to being my mistress's +tire woman in those last few days as makes no matter. A very mettlesome +lady, that; I do not deny it. She was married in her riding-dress, +for she had none other, and a strange sight it was to see the bride +so shabby and the groom so point-de-vice. But I regret that murry +taffeta doublet and the new trunk hosen. However, let it go. You may +say my lips are sealed as to that lost pack, for there was that other +pack I was bound to leave behind at that smuggling port. I warrant +you Sir Nicholas made merry work over that: I bore all with a patient +countenance. + +"I talk more and no more. The marriage over there was some feasting, +and the crew in high fettle. We made all speed for Plymouth Sound, but +I doubt my master and mistress cared little when they came there. + +"At Plymouth I bestirred myself a little, as I know how, bought some +slight matters for my lady, which she was pleased to approve, and call +me a proper tire woman, and set about the ordering of horses and a +coach. My lady stayed aboard till all was ready. She was in no case, +says she, to show herself to England. Yet I never saw her own herself +put-out by the loss of her wardrobe. She took all as it came, and made +merry over it, and I am bound to say I was very much her servant before +that voyage was over. + +"We pushed on to Alreston in rare style, my lady in the coach, Sir +Nicholas riding close beside, and myself a little behind. My lady +must needs have the curtains drawn back to look about her on our +countryside. So she would have it known, but my reading of the matter +is that she wanted to look upon my master. And he upon her, God wot! + +"You may be sure our home-coming fetched up a rare gallimaufry at +Alreston. There was never a one there had thought ever to see Sir +Nicholas again. I believe my lord mourned him already as one dead. But +in we swept at the gates, up the avenue to the house, and fetched up +there with something of a flourish. It is our way. The good-year! We +had the whole household about us in a trice, and I make bold to say +that I have never before or since seen my lord in such a taking of joy. +For he is not one of those who wear the heart upon the sleeve, as the +saying is. He had not near done wringing my master's hand and hugging +him about the shoulders when Sir Nicholas puts him off and begs leave +to present his lady-wife. A rare thing it was to see my lord's jaw +drop! 'What!' quotha. 'You have never brought her off, Nick?' + +"Sir Nicholas handed my mistress out of the coach. I warrant you he +looked proudly, with that gleam of the eye and that cock of the pointed +beard we all know. Well he might throw up his chin! She was a very +lovely piece--with all proper respect I say so, be it understood. + +"She was colouring up finely and holding tight to my master's hand. She +felt herself stared at it, and maybe feared they might look coldly on +her. But my lady had the word then. 'Oh, my dear!' cries she out, and +took my mistress into her arms and well-nigh wept over her. You ask +me why she should do so? I am bound to say I do not understand these +women's coils. She bore my mistress off into the house, and that was +the last I saw of them until the dinner-hour. + +"My lord had me in then to the winter-parlour. It was pretty to see +my mistress, pranked out in a gown of my lady's, lisping her broken +English to my lord, and ever and anon looking to Sir Nicholas to give +her a word she needed. + +"My lord was pleased to speak me very comfortable words, which had +not often been his wont towards me. I had a fat purse from him at a +more convenient time, but at this present he gave me thanks for having +brought his brother off safe. You may lay your life my master let out a +laugh at this, but my mistress gave me a rare smile, and vowed my lord +had reason. When I consider, I must allow he had. But modesty forbids +me to dwell on this. + +"What more? Little enough. We were off to London not so long after, and +I leave you to judge what Sir Francis said when he heard our tale. I +speak of Drake, the Admiral: you will have heard of him, maybe. What my +master told Master Secretary is a matter not revealed to me. Suffice it +that lean Walsingham rubbed his hands over it. Of that I am assured. + +"As I remember, the Court lay at Nonesuch, and thither we went. I +warrant you the Queen's Grace fairly crowed to see my master back, and, +as I heard, thought it a rare jest he should lay down Don Cristobal's +Golden Fleece at her feet. + +"'Is this the best that Spain can show, rogue?' says she. She hath a +merry, boisterous way when she is in the humour. + +"'Why, no, madam,' says my master, and brings her up his lady. 'This is +the best, madam, and as such I present her to you: your Grace's newest +subject.' + +"Maybe she was not so well pleased with that. I have heard it said that +her Grace never liked to see a personable man wed. Be that as it may, +she could not well turn pettish now. My mistress had a hand to kiss, +and got a tap on the cheek from her Grace's fan. 'How now, mistress?' +says her Grace. 'Do you shackle my bold mad Beauvallet?' + +"After which she had very little more to say to my lady, but kept my +master beside her a full hour, telling her how it had fared with us in +Spain. + +"In my opinion, the affair passed off better than might have been hoped +for, considering her Grace's high temper. + +"We were off soon after to Basing, where you see me now. Ay, we lie +snug enough, and if you remark that I am become a personage of some +note I am not to deny you. I do not say that my master shows this to +the world, for that is not at all his way, but I am bold to tell you +that I am very indispensable both to him and to my mistress. Which is +not at all to be wondered at, I hold. But we have never found a pair of +stocks with gold quirks about the ankles to match with those we lost at +Vasconosa, and I cannot but deem the throwing of them to the winds, as +it were, a very wanton piece of work. But thus it is always upon Sir +Nicholas' affairs." + + + THE END + + [Transcriber's Note: Inconsistent hyphenation left as printed.] + + * * * * * + + +Pedigree of the HOUSE OF BEAUVALLET for those Readers who are +Interested in the Fortunes of the Descendants of SIMON THE COLDHEART, +1st Baron Beauvallet + +_b._ 1385, out of wedlock. Son of Geoffrey, Earl of Malvallet and of +Jehanne, a peasant. Fought at Shrewsbury as Squire to Fulk, Earl of +Montlice, and was Knighted 1403. Later acquired Barony of Beauvallet +in Bedfordshire. Was present at Battle of Agincourt and accompanied +Henry V on his Second Campaign to France. Captured Town and Castle of +Belrémy. _m._ 1421, Margaret, Countess of Belrémy, and returned with +her later to England. Domestic life somewhat Disturbed by Uncertain +Temper of Margaret and Unruly Behavour of his heir, Geoffrey (_q.v._). +Was Greatly Addicted in Old Age to the Recounting of his Early +Reminiscences, and derived Considerable Enjoyment from the Perusal +of the Chronicles of his close friend Alan, Earl of Montlice. Was +frequently heard to Deplore the Effeminacy of the Younger Generation. +_d._ 1452, of the Stone, which he Suffered with Great Fortitude. + + +GEOFFREY, 2nd Baron + +_b._ 1423. Early exhibited signs of his Mother's Violent Disposition, +and Rebelled frequently against the Iron Rule of his Father. Quarrelled +with his brother Henry (_q.v._) and Bitterly Resented County of Belrémy +being bestowed on him. _m._ 1445, Alys, daughter of a Gentleman of +Inferior Lineage, thus enraging his Father. Soon became Permanently +Estranged from Simon as the Consequence of Embracing the Yorkist Party. +Steered a Perilous and Intricate Course through the Wars of the Roses, +and finally Deserted the Yorkist Cause upon the Mysterious Demise of +the Nephews of Richard III, which event he felt needed an Explanation +which was not Forthcoming. Opened communications with Henry, Earl of +Richmond but becoming Exasperated by the Cautious Policy of Henry, he +retired from Public Life, and spent the Remainder of his life upon his +Estates. _d._ 1486, of the Sweating-Sickness. + + +HENRY, Count of Belrémy + +_b._ 1425. Believed firmly in the infallibility of his Father and +was always an Appreciative Auditor of his anecdotes. In consequence +of this Display of Filial Piety the lands and title of Belrémy were +Bestowed upon him. Made a Prudent Marriage in France and Maintained +a Dutiful Correspondence with his Father until the latter's Death in +1452. Disgusted with his Elder Brother's Vacillating Policy during the +Wars in England he cut off all Communication with him. The date of his +death is uncertain, but he left a Numerous Progeny, and was Universally +Lamented. + + +MARGARET + +_b._ 1426. Sided with her Eldest Brother against her Father and +Second Brother, and Quarrelled Incessantly with her Mother. _m._, by +arrangement between Simon and Alan, Earl of Montlice, John, eldest son +of Alan. Several children were the result of this marriage, but John +died soon after his Accession to the title, and is Reported to have met +his End with a Smile on his Lips. + + +ALAN + +_b._ 1429. Tried to enact the part of Peacemaker between his Father +and Eldest Brother. He became a Priest and died (date unknown), in the +Obscurity of a Monastery. S.P. + + +JOHN, 3rd Baron + +_b._ 1446. Led a Retired Life throughout the Wars of the Roses and +devoted himself to the Study of Astrology. This so Preyed on his mind +that he died only three years after his Father, leaving no issue. S.P. + + +JOAN + +_b._ 1447. Was renowned for the beauty of her Person, and the Mildness +of her Disposition. _m._ Robert, Lord Pounceby, and by him had several +children. But the Tranquillity of her Married Life was Disturbed soon +by the Execution of her Husband, 1471, after the Battle of Barnet. She +then Dedicated her Life to the Performance of Good Works, and died, +lamented by all, 1489. + + +HENRY, 4th Baron + +Called the 'Iron-Handed.' _b._ 1450. Reputed to favour his Grandfather. +Early joined Henry, Earl of Richmond, in France, and afterwards +accompanied him to England. Took a prominent part in the Battle of +Bosworth, but was very Meagrely Rewarded for his services. Te amend +this Oversight on the part of Henry, he took as his 2nd Wife, Eleanor, +heiress of James, Earl of Malvallet, his 1st Wife having died without +issue. _d._ 1515, as the Result of a Fatal Fall in the Jousting Field, +to which Sport, even in old age, he was Extremely Partial. + + +ELIZABETH + +_d._ 1487. Became a Nun, in consequence of an Indiscretion. + + +ISABELLA + +_b._ 1488. Displayed signs of Impetuosity in early youth, and during +one of her Father's absences from Home. Eloped with a Mere Esquire. +Soon found life Insupportable, and was Attacked by Melancholy, and +passed into a Decline. S.P. + + +NICHOLAS, 5th Baron + +Called the "Good Baron." _b._ 1490. Led a Life of Great Piety, and +married, 1512, Joanna, daughter and co-heiress of Henry, Lord Alreston. +Formed various plans for the Advancement of the Family, but these were +Unhappily Frustrated. He ended his life on Tower Hill, 1539, as an +outcome of a Misunderstanding with Henry VIII. + + +GEOFFREY + +_b._ 1491. Died in Infancy, owing to Overtight Swaddling-Bands. + + +JOANNA + +_b._ 1513. Her Pious Disposition and Wise Judgment early led her Father +to Predict that she was Destined to be the Prop of his Declining Years. +This Prediction remained Unfulfilled (see 5th Baron), and the lady, +upon hearing the Dreadful News of her Father's Death, fell into a +Succession of Fits, which Permanently Impaired her Intellect. S.P. + + +GEOFFREY + +_b._ 1514. Shared his Father's Ambitions for the Advancement of the +Family, and Cherished Schemes for the Acquisition of an Earldom. +These being Frustrated by the Untimely End of his Father, and the +Confiscation of the Estates and Title, he shut himself off from the +World, and Dedicated the Remainder of his Life to Science. This was not +of long Duration, as he shortly afterwards met his End, owing to the +Unfortunate Outcome of the Combination of two Hitherto Undiscovered +Chemicals. S.P. + + +MARY + +_b._ 1516. Married when still a Child to a Gentleman of Respectable +Lineage. Her Calmness of Temper and Philosophical Outlook were the +Admiration of her Acquaintances. Upon hearing the News of her Father's +End she is Reported to have said: "There goes Joanna's Mission. God's +Will be done." Her brother's Fate, as a Martyr to Science, induced her +to remark that it might have been Foreseen from the First. + + +HENRY, 6th Baron + +_b._ 1517. Upon the death of his Father he Prudently withdrew to the +Continent, but returned on hearing of his Brother's End, and by Careful +Policy won back the confiscated Title and Estates. _m._ 1547, Adela, +daughter of a Nobleman of Large Fortune, and managed to Survive the +Reigns of Edward VI and Mary I. His Foresight led him secretly to +Forsake the Old Religion during the latter years of Mary's reign, and +to open Tentative Communications with the Protestant Party. Owing to an +Unfortunate Remark he fell into Disfavour under Elizabeth, but managed +to reinstate himself by the Judicious Tender of a Handsome Present. He +afterwards withdrew to his Estates, but his latter years were Disturbed +by the Impetuous Conduct of his Younger Son, whose Daring Spirit, and +Astonishing Exploits occasioned him Grave Misgivings. He passed away, +1580, in the arms of his heir, Gerard, who was said greatly to resemble +him. + + +NICHOLAS + +_b._ 1518. He was Destined for the Church, but displayed so Vehement a +Repugnance for the Vocation that the Project was abandoned. He Devoted +his Life to the Consumption of Sack, and died of a Surfeit upon the +Occasion of his Brother's Marriage. S.P. + + +GERARD, 7th Baron + +_b._ 1546. + + +ADELA + +_b._ 1549. + + +NICHOLAS + +_b._ 1551. + + * * * * * + + _BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ + + + THESE OLD SHADES + SIMON THE COLDHEART + THE MASQUERADERS + THE GREAT ROXHYTHE + THE BLACK MOTH + HELEN + PASTEL + INSTEAD OF THE THORN + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75547 *** diff --git a/75547-h/75547-h.htm b/75547-h/75547-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66bf134 --- /dev/null +++ b/75547-h/75547-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10741 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Beauvallet | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +x-ebookmaker-drop {display: none;} + +@media print +{ + .larger-version + { + display: none; + } +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap { font-variant:small-caps; } + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; +} + +div.titlepage p { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + font-weight: bold; + line-height: 1.5; + margin-top: 3em; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 4px; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdc {text-align: center;} + +.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph1 { font-size: x-large; margin: .83em auto; } + +.ph2 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } +.ph2 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75547 ***</div> + +<div class="titlepage"> + +<h1>BEAUVALLET</h1> + +<p class="ph2">By GEORGETTE HEYER</p> + +<p>London<br> +WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD</p> + +<p><i>First published September 1929</i><br> +<i>New Impression November 1929</i><br> +<i>Popular (3s. 6d.) Edition 1931</i><br> +<i>Reprinted 1932</i></p> + +<p><i>Printed in Great Britain at<br> +The Windmill Press, Kingswood<br> +Surrey</i></p> + + +<p>TO<br> +F. D. H.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="chap"> + + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tdl"><a href="#EPILOGUE">EPILOGUE</a></td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap"> + +<h2>BEAUVALLET</h2> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The deck was a shambles. Men lay dead and dying; there was split +woodwork, a welter of broken mizzen and sagging sail, dust and grime, +and the reek of powder. A ball screamed through the rigging overhead; +another tore the sea into wild foam beneath the galleon's stern. +She seemed to stagger, to reel, to list heavily to port. From his +quarterdeck Don Juan de Narvaez gave a sharp order; his lieutenant went +running down the companion into the waist of the ship.</p> + +<p>Soldiers crowded there in steel breastplates and chased morions. They +had halberds and pikes, and some held long double-edged swords. They +looked out to sea, to where the smaller ship came steadily on, the +Red Cross of Saint George flying at her mainmast head. They were sure +now that it would end in a hand to hand fight; they were even glad of +it: they knew themselves to be the finest soldiers in Christendom. +What chance could these bold English have against them at close +quarters? The English ship had held off beyond reach of the Spanish +guns this past hour, ceaselessly bombarding the <i>Santa Maria</i> with +her longer-reached cannons. The soldiers in the waist did not know +how serious was the damage she had wreaked, but they were fretting +and nervous from their impotence, and their forced inaction. Now the +English ship drew nearer, the wind filling her white sails, and +bearing her on like a bird through the scudding waves.</p> + +<p>Don Juan watched her come, and saw his guns belch fire upon her. +But she was close, and there was little damage done, full half of +the Spanish guns shooting above her from the over-tall sides of the +galleon. The <i>Venture</i>—and he knew now beyond all doubt that it was +the <i>Venture</i> herself—bore down upon them undaunted.</p> + +<p>She came up alongside, discharging her fire into the galleon's waist, +and passed on unscathed. Drawing a little ahead of the Spaniard she +wore suddenly, came sailing across the galleon's bows, and raked her +cruelly fore and aft.</p> + +<p>The <i>Santa Maria</i> was riddled and groaning; there was panic aboard, and +a hopeless confusion. Don Juan knew his ship was crippled, and cursed +softly in his beard. But he had cool courage enough, and he knew how to +rally his men. The <i>Venture</i> was coming round, and it was evident that +she meant to grapple the larger galleon now. Well, therein lay hope. +Let her come: the <i>Santa Maria</i> was doomed, but aboard the <i>Venture</i> +was El Beauvallet—Beauvallet the mocker of Spain, the freebooter, the +madman! His capture would be worth even the loss of so noble a galleon +as the <i>Santa Maria</i>: ay, and more than that! There was not a Spanish +admiral who had not that capture for his ambition. Don Juan drew in his +breath on the thought. El Beauvallet who bit his thumb at Spain! If it +should fall to his lot to take this man of a charmed life prisoner for +King Philip he thought he would ask no more of life.</p> + +<p>It had been with this in mind that Don Juan had challenged the ship +when she hove into sight that afternoon. He had known that El +Beauvallet was sailing in these waters; at Santiago he had seen Perinat +who had sailed forth to punish the <i>Venture</i> not a fortnight ago. +Perinat had come back to Santiago in his own long boat, biting his +nails, a beaten man. He had talked wildly of witchcraft, of a devil +of a man who threw back his head and laughed. Don Juan had sneered at +that. The bungler Perinat!</p> + +<p>Now it seemed that he too stood in danger of having bungled. He had +thrown down the gauntlet to Beauvallet, who never refused a challenge, +and Beauvallet had picked it up, and flirted his dainty craft forward +through the sparkling sea.</p> + +<p>There had been some desire to show a lady what a Narvaez could +accomplish. Don Juan chewed his lip, and knew a pang of remorse. Below, +in the panelled stateroom, was no less a personage than Don Manuel de +Rada y Sylva, late Governor of Santiago, with his daughter Dominica. +Don Juan knew only too well in what peril they now stood. But when it +came to hand to hand fighting the tables might still be turned.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were armed and ready in the waist and on the forecastle. +There were gunners, grimed and stained with sweat, standing by their +culverins; the brief panic had been swiftly quelled. Let the <i>Venture</i> +come!</p> + +<p>She was near, standing the fire from the long basiliscos; she drew +nearer, and through the smoke one might see the men on her with +boarding axes and swords, ready for the order to board the Spaniard. +Then, suddenly, there was a crack and a roar, the bursting flame and +the black smoke of a score of swivel-guns on her decks, all trained +upon the waist of the <i>Santa Maria</i>. There was havoc wrought amongst +the Spanish soldiery; cries, groans, and oaths rent the air, and +swiftly, while havoc lasted, the <i>Venture</i> crept up, and grappled the +tall galleon.</p> + +<p>Men swarmed up the sides, using their boarding axes to form scaling +ladders. From the spritsail yard they sprang down upon the deck of the +<i>Santa Maria</i>, daggers between their teeth, and long swords in hand. No +might of Spanish soldiery, maimed as it was by the wicked fire, could +stop them. They came on, and the fight was desperate over the slippery +decks: sword to sword, slash and cut, and the quick stab of daggers.</p> + +<p>Don Juan stood at the head of the companion, sword in hand, a tall +figure in breastplate and tassets of fluted steel. He sought in the +press for a leader amongst the boarders, but could see none in that +hurly-burly.</p> + +<p>It was hard fighting, frenzied fighting, over wounded and dead, with +ever and again the crack of a dag fired at close range. The pandemonium +was intense; no single voice could be distinguished amongst the hubbub +of groans, shouted orders, sharp cries, and clash of arms. One could +not tell for a while who had the advantage: the fight swayed and +eddied, and the <i>Santa Maria</i> lay helpless under all.</p> + +<p>A man seemed to spring up out of the mob below, and gained the +companion. A moment he stood with his foot upon the first step, looking +up at Don Juan, a red sword in his hand, a cloak twisted about his +left arm, and a black pointed beard upthrust. A chased morion shaded +the upper part of his face, but Don Juan saw white teeth agleam, and +crouched for the stroke that should send this stranger to perdition. +"Down, <i>perro</i>!" he snarled.</p> + +<p>The stranger laughed, and answered him in pure Castilian. "Nay, señor, +the dog comes up."</p> + +<p>Don Juan peered to see more closely into the upturned face. "Come up +and die, dog," he said softly, "for I think you are he whom I seek."</p> + +<p>"All Spain seems to seek me, señor," answered the stranger merrily. +"But who shall slay Nick Beauvallet? Will you try?"</p> + +<p>He came up the first steps in a bound, and his sword took Don Juan's in +a strong parry that beat it aside for a moment. He brought his cloak +swirling into swift play, and entangled Don Juan's sword in it. He was +up on the quarterdeck in a flash, even as Don Juan, livid, shook his +sword free of the cloak. The two blades rang together, but Don Juan +knew that he had met his master. He was forced back and back across the +deck to the bulwarks, fighting grimly every inch of the way.</p> + +<p>Cruzada, his lieutenant, came running from the poop-deck. Beauvallet +saw, and made a quick end. His great sword whirled aloft, cleaved +downwards, hissing through the air, and shattered the pauldron over +Don Juan's shoulder. Don Juan sank, half-stunned, to his knees, and +his sword clattered to the deck. Beauvallet turned, panting, to meet +Cruzada.</p> + +<p>But there were Englishmen on the quarterdeck now, hard upon the heels +of their leader, and from all sides came cries from the Spaniards for +quarter. Beauvallet's sword held Cruzada in check. "Yield, señor, +yield," he said. "I hold your general prisoner."</p> + +<p>"But yet I may slay you, pirate!" gasped Cruzada.</p> + +<p>"Curb ambition, child," Beauvallet said. "Here Daw, Russet, Curlew! +Overpower me this springald. Softly, lads, softly!"</p> + +<p>Cruzada found himself surrounded, and cried out in fury. Rough hands +seized him from behind, and dragged him back; he saw Beauvallet leaning +on his sword, and cursed him wildly for a coward and a poltroon.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet chuckled at that. "Grow a beard, child, and meet me when +it's grown. Mr. Dangerfield!" His lieutenant was at hand. "Have a +guard about the worthy señor," said Beauvallet, and indicated Don Juan +by a brief nod. He bent, picked up Don Juan's sword, and was off, +light-footed, down the companion into the waist of the ship.</p> + +<p>Don Juan recovered his senses to find himself unarmed, and El +Beauvallet gone. He came staggering to his feet, an English hand at +his elbow, and was aware of a fair boy confronting him. "You are my +prisoner, señor," said Richard Dangerfield, in halting Spanish. "The +day is lost."</p> + +<p>The sweat was in Don Juan's eyes; he brushed it away, and could see +the truth of this statement. All over the galleon his men were laying +down their arms. The rage and the anguish that convulsed him were wiped +suddenly from his face. By a supreme effort he recovered his <i>sosiego</i>, +and stood straight and looked impassively as should befit his breeding. +He achieved a bow. "I am in your hands, señor."</p> + +<p>Over the quarterdeck towards the poop men were hurrying already in +search of plunder. Some three or four stout fellows went clattering +down the companion that led to the staterooms. They came upon a sight +to astonish them. Backed against the wall, with hands laid along the +panelling to either side of her stood a lady, a lady all cream and +rose and ebony. Cream her skin, and rose her lips, ebony the lustrous +hair confined under a net of gold. Her eyes were dark and large under +languorous lids, the brows delicately marked, the nose short and proud, +the full lips curved and ripe. She wore a gown of purple camlet, worked +cunningly with a pattern of gold thread, with a kirtle of armazine to +fall from the veriest hint of a farthingale. Behind her head reared up +a high ruff of lace sewn with crystals. It framed a face piquant and +lovely. The square of her bodice was cut low across her breast; a jewel +lay upon the white skin, rising and falling with her quickened breath.</p> + +<p>The foremost of the invaders stood in an amazed stare, but recovered +before those behind him might push forward. "A wench!" he cried on a +coarse laugh. "A rare wench, as I live!"</p> + +<p>His fellows came crowding to get a sight of this miracle. There were +sparks of anger in the lady's eyes, and, at the back of them, fear.</p> + +<p>A man rose from a high-backed chair by the table, a man of middle age, +enfeebled by the West Indian climate. Latent fever had him in its grip; +it might be seen in his overbright eyes, and in the intermittent ague +that shook him. He wore a long furred gown, and a close cap, and he +leaned heavily upon a stick. There was a priest of the Franciscan order +beside him, cowled darkly, but the holy man paid no heed to anything +but his beads, over which he muttered ceaselessly. The other man went +with an infirm step to stand before his daughter, shielding her from +curious eyes. "I demand to be taken before your commander!" he said in +the Spanish tongue. "I am Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva, late Governor of +the island of Santiago."</p> + +<p>It is doubtful whether much of this was intelligible to the English +seamen. A couple advanced into the stateroom and put Don Manuel aside. +"Hold off, old greybeard!" William Hick advised him, and put a dirty +hand under the lady's chin. "The pretty chuck! Buss me, sweeting!"</p> + +<p>There came instead the sound of a ringing slap. William Hick started +back with a rueful hand clapped to his cheek. "Oh, a shrew!"</p> + +<p>John Daw caught the lady about her trim waist, clipping one of her arms +to her side. The other fighting hand was imprisoned in his huge paw. +"Softly, my cosset, softly!" he chuckled, and gave her a hearty kiss. +"That's the way to use, lads!"</p> + +<p>Don Manuel, held between two men, cried out. "Unhand her, fellow! Your +commander! I demand to see your commander!"</p> + +<p>They caught at the last word, and it sobered them a little. "Ay, hail +'em before the General. It's safer." John Daw pushed Hick aside, who +was fingering the jewel about the girl's neck. "Let be! Do you want Mad +Nick after you? Come lass, on deck with you!"</p> + +<p>The lady was forced, resisting to the door. She did not know what they +were going to do with her, and struggled wildly, throwing herself back +against their pulling hands. It did not serve. "The curst wench!" +growled Hick, still smarting from the blow she had dealt him. He +snatched her up into his arms and bore her up the companion to the +poop-deck.</p> + +<p>There were others gathered there, others who greeted the appearance +of this frightened, wrathful lady with amazement and some ribaldry. +She was set on her feet, and straightway fell upon Hick like a young +wild-cat. She ignored a warning cry from her father, brought under ward +on to the deck, and hit out at Hick, stamped with her heel on a large +foot, scratched at a bearded face. She was seized and held fast, each +wrist in custody of a grinning sailor. One of them chucked her under +the chin, and laughed hugely to see her throw up her head. "Little +turtle-dove, pretty love-bird!" said John Daw, essaying satire.</p> + +<p>There were men crowded all about her, wondering, jesting, feasting +their eyes. A lip was smacked; there was a knowing wink and a bawdy +joke. The lady shrank.</p> + +<p>Then, all at once, a ringing voice spoke authoritatively from beyond +the group that encircled her. "God's death! What's this? Give way +there!"</p> + +<p>Two men went staggering aside, spun apart by an iron hand on the +shoulder of each. The lady looked fearfully into the face of El +Beauvallet.</p> + +<p>He had cast aside his morion, and his close black hair showed, curling +neatly over his head. Under straight brows she saw fine eyes, the +blue of the sea with the sunlight on the water. They were bright eyes +and keen, vivid under the black lashes; laughing eyes, watchful yet +careless.</p> + +<p>The laugh was stayed in them now as he checked in his impatient stride. +He stood staring; a mobile eyebrow flew up comically; Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet appeared incredulous, and blinked at this unexpected vision.</p> + +<p>His glance, quick moving, took in next the lady's captors, and the +stilled laughter went right out of his eyes. He was swift in action, +too swift for Hick, still stupidly grasping one of the lady's wrists. A +clenched fist shot out and took Master Hick neatly on the point of the +jaw. Master Hick fell a-sprawl on the deck. "Cullions! Dawcocks!" said +Beauvallet terribly, and swung round to deal in kind with John Daw.</p> + +<p>But Master Daw had hurriedly released the wrist he held, and was making +off as quickly as he could. He was sped on his way by a shrewd kick +to the rearward. Beauvallet turned to the lady. "A million pardons, +señora!" he said, as though here were no great matter.</p> + +<p>The lady was forced to admit him to be a personable fellow, and she +found his smile irresistible. She bit back an answering gleam: one +would not smile friendly upon an English freebooter. "Unhand my father, +señor!" she commanded, mighty haughty.</p> + +<p>The tone seemed to amuse Beauvallet; his shoulders shook +appreciatively. He looked round for sign of my lady's parent, and saw +him standing between guards who straightway let him go, and stepped +back in something of a hurry.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel was shaken, and ashen pale. He spoke breathlessly. "I demand +instantly to see the commander!"</p> + +<p>"A million more pardons!" Beauvallet responded. "Behold the commander, +Nicholas Beauvallet, at your service!"</p> + +<p>The lady exclaimed at that. "I knew it! You are El Beauvallet!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet turned to her, the eyebrow was raised again, and the eyes +themselves were twinkling. "Himself, señora. Wholly at your feet."</p> + +<p>"I," said Don Manuel stiffly, "am Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva. You +address my daughter, Doña Dominica. I demand to know the meaning of +this outrage."</p> + +<p>"Outrage?" said Beauvallet, honestly puzzled. "What outrage, señor?"</p> + +<p>Don Manuel flushed, and pointed a shaking finger to the shambles +forward. "You need ask, señor?"</p> + +<p>"The fight! Why, to say truth, noble señor, I had thought that this +ship opened fire upon me," said Beauvallet pleasantly. "And I was never +one to refuse a challenge."</p> + +<p>"Where," demanded Doña Dominica, "is Don Juan de Narvaez?"</p> + +<p>"Under guard, señora, until he goes aboard his own long boat."</p> + +<p>"You beat him! You, with that little ship!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet laughed out at that. "I, with that little ship," he bowed.</p> + +<p>"What of us?" Don Manuel interrupted.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas looked rueful, ran a hand through his crisp hair. "You +have me there, señor," he confessed. "What a-plague are you doing +aboard this vessel?"</p> + +<p>"I conceive that to be none of your business, señor. If you must know I +am on my way home from Santiago to Spain."</p> + +<p>"Why, an evil chance," said Beauvallet sympathetically. "What folly +possessed that numskull of a commander of yours to open fire on me?"</p> + +<p>"Don Juan did his duty, señor," said Don Manuel haughtily.</p> + +<p>"Alack then, that virtue has not been better rewarded," said Sir +Nicholas lightly. "And what am I to do with you?" He bit his finger, +pondering the question. "There is of course the long boat. She puts off +as soon as may be for the island of Dominica. It lies some three miles +to the north of us. Do you choose to go aboard her?"</p> + +<p>Doña Dominica took a quick step forward. Since her fears were lulled +her temper rose. This careless manner was not to be borne. She broke +into impassioned speech, shooting her words at Beauvallet. "Is that all +you can say? Sea-robber! Hateful pirate! Is it nothing to you that we +must put back to the Indies and wait perhaps months for another ship? +Oh nothing, nothing! You see where my father stands, a sick man, and +you care nothing that you expose him to such rough usage. Base, wicked +robber! What do you care! Nothing! I could spit on you for a vile +English freebooter!" She ended on a sob of rage, and stamped her foot +at him.</p> + +<p>"Good lack!" said Beauvallet, staring down into that exquisite face of +fury. A smile of amusement and of admiration crept into his eyes. It +caused Doña Dominica to lose the last shreds of her temper. What would +you? She was a maid all fire and spirit. She struck at him, and he +caught her hand and held it, pulled her closer, and looked down into +her face with eyes a-twinkle. "I cry pardon, señora. We will amend +all." He turned his head and sent a shout ringing for his lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"Loose me!" Dominica said, and tried to pull her hand away. "Loose me!"</p> + +<p>"Why, you would scratch me if I did," Beauvallet said, teasing.</p> + +<p>It was not to be borne. The lady's eyes fell, and encountered the hilt +of a dagger in Beauvallet's belt. She raised them again, held his in a +defiant stare, and stole her hand to the dagger's hilt.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas looked quickly down, saw what she would be at, and +laughed. "Brave lass!" He let her go, let her draw out his dagger, and +flung wide his arms. "Come then! Have at me!"</p> + +<p>She stepped back, uncertain and bewildered, wondering what manner of +man was this who could mock at death itself. "If you touch me I will +kill you," she said through her teeth.</p> + +<p>Still he came on, twinkling, daring her. She drew back until the +bulwarks stayed her.</p> + +<p>"Now strike!" invited Beauvallet. "I'll swear you have the stomach for +it!"</p> + +<p>"My daughter!" Don Manuel was aghast. "Give back that knife! I command +you! Señor, be good enough to stand back."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet turned away from the lady. It seemed he gave no second +thought to the dangerous weapon she held. He waited for Dangerfield to +come up, standing with his hands tucked negligently into his belt.</p> + +<p>"Sir, you called me?"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet indicated Don Manuel and his daughter with a comprehensive +sweep of his hand. "Convey Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva and his daughter +aboard the <i>Venture</i>," he said, in Spanish.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel started; Dominica gave a gasp. "Is it a jest, señor?" Don +Manuel demanded.</p> + +<p>"I' God's Name, why should I jest?"</p> + +<p>"You make us prisoners?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I bid you be my guests, señor. I said I would amend all."</p> + +<p>The lady broke out again. "You mock us! You shall not take us aboard +your ship. We will not go!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet set his hands on his hips. The mobile eyebrow went up again. +"How now? First you will and then you will not. You tell me I am a dog +to hinder your return to Spain, and curse me roundly for a rogue. Well, +I have said I will amend the fault: I will convey you to Spain with all +speed. What ails you then?"</p> + +<p>"Take us to Spain?" said Don Manuel uncomprehendingly.</p> + +<p>"You cannot!" cried Dominica, incredulous. "You dare not!"</p> + +<p>"Dare not? God's Son, I am Nick Beauvallet!" said Sir Nicholas, amazed. +"Dared I sail into Vigo a year back, and lay all waste? What should +stop me?"</p> + +<p>She flung up her hands, and the dagger flashed in the sunlight. "Oh, +now I know that they named you well who named you Mad Beauvallet!"</p> + +<p>"You have it wrong," Beauvallet said, jesting. "Mad Nicholas is the +name they call me. I make you free of it, señora."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel interposed. "Señor, I do not understand you. I cannot +believe you speak in good faith."</p> + +<p>"The best in the world, señor. Is an Englishman's word good enough?"</p> + +<p>Don Manuel knew not how to answer. It was left for his daughter to say +No, very hotly. All she got by that was a quick look, and a slight +laugh.</p> + +<p>Across the deck came Don Juan de Narvaez, stately even in defeat. He +bowed low to Don Manuel, lower still to Doña Dominica, and ignored +Beauvallet. "Señor, the boat waits. Permit me to escort you."</p> + +<p>"Get you aboard, Señor Punctilio," said Sir Nicholas. "Don Manuel sails +with me."</p> + +<p>"No!" said Dominica. But it is very certain that she meant yes.</p> + +<p>"I have no desire to jest with you, señor," Don Juan said coldly. "Don +Manuel de Rada naturally sails with me."</p> + +<p>A long finger beckoned to Don Juan's guard. "Escort Don Juan to the +long boat," said Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"I do not stir from here without Don Manuel and his daughter," said +Narvaez, and struck an attitude.</p> + +<p>"Take him away," said Sir Nicholas, bored. "God speed you, señor." +Narvaez was led away, protesting. "Señora, be pleased to go aboard the +<i>Venture</i>. Diccon, have their traps conveyed at once."</p> + +<p>Dominica braved him, to see what might come of it. "I will not go!" She +clenched the dagger. "Constrain me at your peril!"</p> + +<p>"A challenge?" inquired Beauvallet. "Oh, rash! I told you that I never +refused a challenge." He bore down upon her, and dodged, laughing, +the dagger's point. He caught her wrist, and had his other arm firmly +clipped about her waist. "Cry peace, sweetheart," he said, and took the +dagger from her, and restored it to its sheath. "Come!" he said, tossed +her up in his arms, and strode off with her to the quarterdeck.</p> + +<p>Dominica forbore resistance. It would be useless, she knew, and her +dignity would suffer. She permitted herself to be carried off, and +liked the manner of it. They did not use such ready methods in Spain. +There was great strength in the arm that upheld her, and the very +carelessness of the man intrigued one. A strange, mad fellow, with an +odd directness. One would know more of him.</p> + +<p>She was carried down the companion into the waist, where the men were +busy with the treasure—China silks, and linen-cloths, ingots of gold, +bars of silver, and spices from the islands. "Robber!" said Dominica +softly.</p> + +<p>He chuckled. It was annoying. To the bulwarks he went, and she wondered +how he would manage now. But he did it easily enough, with a hand on +the shrouds, and a leap up. He stood poised a moment. "Welcome aboard +the <i>Venture</i>, sweetheart!" he said audaciously, and climbed down with +her safe tucked in his arm to his own poop-deck below.</p> + +<p>She was set on her feet, ruffled and speechless, and saw her father +being helped carefully down the side of the tall galleon. Don Manuel +appeared to be both bewildered and amused.</p> + +<p>"See them well bestowed, Diccon," Beauvallet bade the fair youth, and +went back the way he had come.</p> + +<p>"Will it please you to come below, señora?" Dangerfield said shyly, and +bowed to them both. "Your chests will be here anon."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel smiled a little wryly. "I think the man is either mad—or +else—an odd, whimsical fellow, my daughter," he remarked. "We shall +doubtless learn which in time."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Doña Dominica was escorted below decks, and led to a fair cabin which +she guessed to be the home of Master Dangerfield, hurriedly evicted. +She was left there alone, while Master Dangerfield took her father +on to yet another cabin. She took stock of her surroundings, and was +pleased to approve. There were mellow walls, oak-panelled, a cushioned +seat under the porthole, a table with carved legs, a joint-stool, a +fine Flanders chest, a cupboard against the bulkhead, and the bunk.</p> + +<p>There was presently a discreet scratching on the door. She bade enter, +and a small man with an inquisitive nose and very bravely curling +mustachios insinuated his head into the room. Doña Dominica regarded +him in silence. A pair of shrewd grey eyes smiled deprecatingly. +"Permit that I bring your chests, señora," said the newcomer in perfect +Spanish. "Also your ladyship's woman."</p> + +<p>"Maria!" called out Dominica joyfully.</p> + +<p>The door was opened further to admit a plump creature who flew to her, +and sobbed, and laughed. "Señorita! They have not harmed you!" She fell +to patting Dominica's hands, and kissing them.</p> + +<p>"But where were you all this time?" Dominica asked.</p> + +<p>"They locked me in the cabin, señorita! Miguel de Vasso it was! Serve +him right that he took a grievous knock on the head! But you?"</p> + +<p>"I am safe," Dominica answered. "But what will happen to us I know not. +The world's upside down, I believe."</p> + +<p>The man with the mustachios came into the room and revealed a spare +figure garbed in sober brown fustian. "Have no fear, señora," said this +worthy cheerfully. "You sail upon the <i>Venture</i>, and we do not harm +women. Faith of an Englishman!"</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" Dominica asked.</p> + +<p>"I," said the thin man, puffing out his chest, "am no less a person, +señora, than Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's own familiar servant, Joshua +Dimmock, at your orders. Ho, there! bring on the baggage!" This was +addressed to someone without. In a moment two younkers appeared laden, +and dumped down their burdens upon the floor. They lingered, gaping +at the lady, but Joshua waved his hands at them. "Hence, get hence, +numskulls!" He hustled them out, and shut the door upon them. "Please +you, noble lady, I will dispose." He looked upon the mountain of +baggage, laid a finger to his nose, skipped to the cupboard, and flung +it open. The raiment of Master Dangerfield was exposed to Maria's +titters. Joshua swooped, came away with an armful of doublets and hose, +and cast them into the alleyway outside the cabin. "Ho there! Avoid +me these trappings!" he commanded, and the two women heard footsteps +coming quickly in obedience to the summons. Joshua returned to the +cupboard and swept it bare, flung out the boots and the pantoffles that +stood ranged upon its floor, and stepped back to observe with pride the +barrenness of his creating. "So!" The chest caught his eye; he went to +it in a rush, lifted the lid, and clicked his tongue in impatience. He +seemed to dive into it head first.</p> + +<p>Dominica sat down on the cushioned seat to watch the surprising +gyrations of Master Dimmock. Maria knelt by her, clasping a hand still +in both of hers, and giggled under her breath. An indignant voice was +uplifted in the alleyway. "Who cast them here? That coystrill! Dimmock, +Joshua Dimmock, may the black vomit seize you! Master Dangerfield's +fine Venice hosen to lie in the dust! Come out, ye skinny rogue!"</p> + +<p>Joshua emerged from the chest with an armful of shirts and +netherstocks. The door was rudely opened; Master Dangerfield's servant +sought to make a hasty entrance, but was met on the threshold by +Joshua, who thrust the pile of linen into his arms, and drove him +out. "Avoid them! Avoid, fool! The noble lady hath this cabin. By the +General's orders, mark you! Hold your peace, wastrel! The Venice hose! +What's that to me? Make order there! Pick up that handruff, that boot, +those stocks! There are more shirts to come. Await me!" He came back, +spread his hands, and shrugged expressive shoulders. "Heed naught, +señora. A hapless fool. Master Dangerfield's man. We shall have all in +order presently."</p> + +<p>"I should not wish to turn Master Dangerfield from his cabin," Dominica +said. "Is there none other might house me?"</p> + +<p>"Most noble lady! Waste no moment's thought upon it!" Joshua said, +shocked. "Master Dangerfield, forsooth! A likely gentleman, I allow, +but a mere lad from the nursery. This mountain of raiment! Ho, the +young men! all alike! I dare swear a full score of shirts. Sir Nicholas +himself owns not so many." He threw the rest of Master Dangerfield's +wardrobe out of the cabin, and shut the door smartly upon the protests +of Master Dangerfield's man.</p> + +<p>Dominica watched the disposal of her baggage about the room. "I must +suppose you a man of worth," she said, gently satirical.</p> + +<p>"You may say so, indeed, señora. I am the servant of Sir Nicholas. I +have the ear. I am obeyed. Thus it is to be the lackey of a great man, +lady," Joshua answered complacently.</p> + +<p>"Oh, is this Sir Nicholas a great man by your reckoning?"</p> + +<p>"None greater, lady," said Joshua promptly. "I have served him these +fifteen years, and seen none to equal him. And I have been about the +world, mark you! Ay, we have done some junketting to and fro. I allow +you Sir Francis Drake to be a man well enough, but lacking in some +small matters wherein we have the advantage of him. His birth, for +example, will not rank with ours. By no means! Raleigh? Pshaw! he lacks +our ready wit: we laugh in his sour countenance! Howard? A fig for +him! I say no more, and leave you to judge. That popinjay, Leicester? +Bah! A man of no weight. We, and we alone have never failed in our +undertakings. And why, you ask? Very simply, señora: we reck not! +The Queen's grace said it with her own august lips. 'God's death,' +quoth she—her favourite oath, mark you!—'God's Death, Sir Nicholas, +you should take <i>Reck Not</i> to be your watchword!' With reason, most +gracious lady! Certain, we reck not. We bite our glove in challenge to +whomsoever ye will. We take what we will: Beauvallet's way!"</p> + +<p>Maria sniffed, and cocked up her pert nose. Joshua looked severely. +"Mark it, mistress! I speak for both: we reck not."</p> + +<p>"He is a bold man," Dominica said, half to herself.</p> + +<p>Joshua beamed upon her. "You speak sooth, señora. Bold! Ay, a very +panther. We laugh at fear. That's for lesser men. I shall uncord these +bundles, gracious lady, so it please you."</p> + +<p>"What is he? What is his birth?" Dominica asked. "Is he base or noble?"</p> + +<p>Joshua bent a frown of some dignity upon her. "Would I serve one who +was of base birth, señora? No! We are very nobly born. The knighthood +was not needed to mark our degree. An honour granted upon our return +from Drake's voyage round the world. I allow it to have been due, but +we needed it not. Sir Nicholas stands heir to a barony, no less!"</p> + +<p>"So!" said Dominica with interest.</p> + +<p>"Ay, and indeed. He is own brother to Lord Beauvallet. A solid man, +señora, lacking our wits, maybe, but a comfortable wise lord. He looks +askance at all this trafficking upon the high seas." Joshua forgot +for a moment his rôle of admiring and faithful servant. "Well he may! +Rolling up and down the world, never at rest—it is not fit! We are no +longer boys to delight in hare-brained schemes and chancy ventures. But +what would you? A madness is in us; we must always be up and about, +nosing out danger." He rolled up the cords he had untied. "I leave +you, señora, Ha! we cast off!" He hopped to the porthole, and peered +out. "In good time: that hulk is done. I go now to see the noble señor +safely housed. By your leave, señora!"</p> + +<p>"Where is my father?" Dominica asked.</p> + +<p>"Hard by, señora. You may rap on this bulkhead, and he will hear. +Mistress——" he looked austerely at Maria—"see to the noble lady!"</p> + +<p>"Impudence!" Maria cried. But the door had shut behind Joshua Dimmock.</p> + +<p>"An oddity," said Dominica. "Well—like master, like man." She went +to the port, and stood on tiptoe to look out. The waves were hissing +round the sides of the <i>Venture</i>. "I cannot see our ship. That man said +she was done." She came away from the port. "And so here we are, upon +an English ship, and in an enemy's power. What shall come of it, I +wonder?" She did not seem to be disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Let them dare to touch you!" Maria said, arms akimbo. "I am not locked +in my cabin twice, señorita!" She abandoned the fierce attitude, and +began to unpack my lady's baggage. She shook out a gown of stiff +crimson brocade, and sighed over it. "Alas, the broidered taffety that +I had in my mind for you to wear this night!" she lamented.</p> + +<p>Dominica smiled secretly. "I will wear it," she said.</p> + +<p>Maria stared. "Your finest gown to be wasted on a party of English +pirates! Now if it were Don Juan——"</p> + +<p>Dominica was impatient suddenly. "Don Juan! A fool! A beaten braggart! +He strutted, and swore he would sink this ship to the bottom of the +sea, and take the great Beauvallet a prisoner to Spain! I hate a man to +be beaten! Lay out the gown, girl. I will wear it, and the rubies too."</p> + +<p>"Never say so, señorita!" cried Maria in genuine horror. "I have your +jewels safe hid in my bosom. They would tear them from your neck!"</p> + +<p>"The rubies!" Dominica repeated. "We are here as the guests of El +Beauvallet, and I vow we will play the part right royally!"</p> + +<p>There was a soft scratching on the door, and Don Manuel came in. "Well, +my child?" he said, and looked around him with approval.</p> + +<p>Doña Dominica waved her hand. "As you see, señor, I am very well. And +you?"</p> + +<p>He nodded, and came to sit beside her. "They house us snugly enough. +There is a strange creature giving orders to my man at this moment. He +says he is El Beauvallet's lackey. I do not understand these English +servants, and the license they have. The creature talks without pause." +He drew his gown about his knees. "We labour with the unexpected," he +complained, and looked gravely at his daughter. "The commander bids us +to supper. We shall not forget, Dominica, that we sail as guests upon +this ship."</p> + +<p>"No," said Dominica doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"We shall use Sir Nicholas with courtesy," added Don Manuel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, señor," said Dominica, more doubtfully still.</p> + +<p>An hour later Joshua came once more to her door. Supper awaited her, +he said, and bowed her down the alleyway to the stateroom. She went +regally, and rubies glowed on her bosom. The dull red of her stiff gown +made her skin appear the whiter; she carried a fan of feathers in her +hand, and had a wired ruff of lace sewn over with jewels behind her +head.</p> + +<p>The stateroom was low-pitched, lit by two lamps hung on chains from +the thick beams above. On the bulkhead opposite the door arms were +emblazoned, arms crossed with the bar sinister, and with a scroll +round the base, bearing the legend <i>Sans Peur</i>. A table was spread in +the middle of the room, and there were high-backed chairs of Spanish +make set round it. Beside one of these was standing Master Dangerfield, +point-de-vice in a bombasted doublet of grograine, and the famous +Venice hosen. He bowed and blushed when he saw Dominica, and was eager +to set a chair for her.</p> + +<p>She had no quarrel with Dangerfield; she smiled upon him, enslaved +him straightway, and sat her down at the table, unconcernedly fanning +herself.</p> + +<p>There was a cheerful voice uplifted without, a strong masculine voice +that had a ringing quality. One might always know when Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet approached.</p> + +<p>He came in, apparently cracking some jest, escorting Don Manuel.</p> + +<p>Dominica surveyed him through her lashes. Even in dinted armour, with +his hair damp with sweat, and his hands grimed with powder he had +appeared to her personable. She saw him now transformed.</p> + +<p>He wore a purple doublet, slashed and paned, with great sleeves slit to +show stitched linen beneath. A high collar clipped his throat about, +and had a little starched ruff atop. Over it jutted his beard: none +of your spade beards, this, but a rare stiletto, black as his close +hair. He affected the round French hosen, puffed about the thighs, and +the netherstocks known in England as Lord Leicester's, since only a +man with as good a leg as his might reasonably wear them. There were +rosettes upon his shoon, and knotted garters, rich with silver lace, +below his knees. Starched handruffs were turned back from his wrists; +he wore a jewel on one long finger, and about his neck a golden chain +with a scented pomander hanging from it.</p> + +<p>He entered, and his quick glance took in Dominica at the table. He +swept her a bow, and showed his even white teeth in a smile that was +boyish and swift, and curiously infectious. "Well, met, señora! Has my +rogue seen to your comfort? A chair for Don Manuel, Diccon!" The room +seemed to be full of Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, a forceful presence.</p> + +<p>"I am ashamed to have stolen Señor Dangerfield's cabin from him," +Dominica said, with a pretty smile bestowed upon Richard.</p> + +<p>He stammered a disclaimer. It was an honour, a privilege. Dominica, +choosing to ignore Beauvallet at the head of the table, pursued a +halting conversation with Dangerfield, exerting herself to captivate. +No difficult task this: the lad looked with eyes of shy admiration +already.</p> + +<p>"A strange, whimsical fellow ordered everything, señor," she said. "I +cry pardon: it was not I threw your traps out on to the alleyway! I +hope the master was not so incensed as was the man?"</p> + +<p>Dangerfield smiled. "Ay, that would be Joshua, señora. My man's a fool, +a dolt. He is greatly enraged against Joshua. You must understand, +señora, that Joshua is an original. I dare say he boasted to you of Sir +Nicholas' exploits—always coupling himself with his master?"</p> + +<p>Dominica had nothing to say to this. Dangerfield plodded on. "It is his +way, but I believe he is the only one of our company who takes it upon +himself to censure his master. To the world he says that Sir Nicholas +is second only to God; to Sir Nicholas' self he says——" he broke +off, and turned a laughing, quizzical look on his chief.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas turned his head; Dominica had not thought that he was +attending. "Ah, to Sir Nicholas' self he says what Sir Nicholas' +dignity will not permit him to repeat," said Beauvallet, smiling. +He turned back to Don Manuel, who had broken off in the middle of a +sentence.</p> + +<p>"Your servant did not seem to hold him in so great esteem as he holds +himself, señor," said Dominica.</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, señora, but then he threw my clothes out into the alley."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it was dusty," Dominica said demurely.</p> + +<p>"Do not let Sir Nicholas hear you say that, señora," Dangerfield +answered gaily.</p> + +<p>By a half smile that was certainly not conjured up by her father's +conversation Dominica saw that Sir Nicholas was still attending.</p> + +<p>Meat was set before the lady, breast of mutton served with a sauce +flavoured with saffron. There was a pasty beside, and a compost of +quinces. She fell to, and continued to talk to Master Dangerfield.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel tried more than once to catch his daughter's eye, but he +failed, and was forced to pursue his conversation with Sir Nicholas. +"You have a well-found vessel, señor," he remarked courteously.</p> + +<p>"My own, señor." Beauvallet picked up a flagon of wine. "I have here an +Alicante wine, señor, or a Burgundy, if you should prefer it. Or there +is Rhenish. Say but the word!"</p> + +<p>"You are too good, señor. The Alicante wine, I thank you." He observed +that his cup was of Moorish ware, much used in Spain, and raised his +brows at it. Delicately he forbore comment.</p> + +<p>"You remark my cups, señor?" said Beauvallet, lacking a like delicacy. +"They come out of Andalusia." He saw a slight stiffening on the part of +his guest, and his eyes twinkled. "Nay, nay señor, they never were upon +a Spanish galleon. I bought them upon my travels, years ago."</p> + +<p>He threw Don Manuel into some discomfort. Don Manuel made haste to turn +the subject. "You know my country, señor?"</p> + +<p>"Why yes, a little," Beauvallet acknowledged. He looked at Dominica's +averted face. "May I give you wine, señora?"</p> + +<p>So rapt in conversation with Dangerfield was the lady that it seemed +she did not hear. Beauvallet watched her a moment in some amusement, +then turned to Don Manuel. "Do you suppose, señor, that your daughter +will take wine from my hands?"</p> + +<p>"Dominica, you are addressed!" Don Manuel said sharply.</p> + +<p>She gave an admirable start, and turned. "Señor?" She encountered +Beauvallet's eyes, brimful with laughter. "Your pardon, señor?" He held +out a cup in his long fingers. She took it from him, and turned it in +her hand. "Ah, did this come from the <i>Santa Maria</i>?" she asked, mighty +innocent.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel blushed for his daughter's manners, and made a deprecatory +sound. But Beauvallet's shoulders shook. "I had these quite honestly, +señora."</p> + +<p>Dominica appeared surprised.</p> + +<p>Supper wore on its way. Don Manuel, shocked at the perversity of his +daughter in bestowing all her attention on Dangerfield, began to talk +to the young man himself, and successfully ousted Dominica from the +conversation. She bit her lip with vexation, and became absorbed in the +contemplation of a dish of marchpane. At her left hand Beauvallet lay +back in his chair, and played idly with his pomander. Dominica stole +a sidelong glance at him, found his eyes upon her, wickedly teasing +under the down-dropped lids, and flushed hotly. She began to nibble at +a piece of marchpane.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas let fall his pomander, and sat straight in his chair. His +hand went to his belt; he drew his dagger from the sheath. It was a +rich piece, with a hilt of wrought gold and a thin, flashing blade. +He leaned forward, and presented the hilt to the lady. "I make you a +present of it, señora," he said in a humble voice.</p> + +<p>Dominica flung up her head at that, and tried to push the dagger away. +"I do not want it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but surely!"</p> + +<p>"You are pleased to mock me, señor. I have no need of your dagger."</p> + +<p>"But you would like so much to kill me," Sir Nicholas said softly.</p> + +<p>Dominica looked at him indignantly. He was abominable, and to make +matters the more insupportable he had a smile that set a poor maid's +heart in a flutter. "You laugh at me. Take your fill of it, señor: I +shall not heed your sneers," she said.</p> + +<p>"I?" Beauvallet said, and shot out a hand to grasp her wrist. "Now look +me boldly in the face and tell me if I sneer at you!"</p> + +<p>Dominica looked instead toward her father, but he had turned his +shoulder, and was descanting to Master Dangerfield upon the works of +Livy.</p> + +<p>"Come!" insisted the tormentor. "What, afraid?"</p> + +<p>Stung, she looked up. Defiance gleamed in her eyes. Sir Nicholas +kept his steadily upon her, raised her hand to his lips, kissed it +fleetingly, and held it still. "You will know me better one day," he +said.</p> + +<p>"I've no ambition for it," Dominica answered, but without truth.</p> + +<p>"Have you not? Have you not indeed?" His fingers tightened about her +wrist; there was a brilliant look of inquiry before he let her go. It +disturbed her oddly; the man had no right to such bright, challenging +eyes.</p> + +<p>A silence fell between them. Don Manuel, absorbed in his topic, had +passed on to the poet Horace, and was inflicting quotations upon Master +Dangerfield.</p> + +<p>"What came to Don Juan, señor?" asked Dominica, finding the silence +oppressive.</p> + +<p>"I suppose him to be steering for the island of your name, señora," +Sir Nicholas replied, and cracked a nut between finger and thumb. The +problems besetting Don Juan seemed to hold no interest for him.</p> + +<p>"And Señor Cruzada? And the rest?"</p> + +<p>"I did not send him alone, señora," said Beauvallet, one eyebrow +lifting humorously. "I suppose Señor Cruzada, whomsoever he may be, to +be of his company."</p> + +<p>The lady selected another fragment of marchpane from the dish, and +refused an offer of Hippocras to drink with it. She looked pensive. +"You give quarter then, you English?"</p> + +<p>"God's Life, did you suppose otherwise?"</p> + +<p>"I did not know, señor. They tell strange tales of you in the Indies."</p> + +<p>"It seems so indeed." He looked amused. "Am I said to burn, torture, +and slay, señora?"</p> + +<p>She met his gaze gravely. "You are a hardy man, señor. There are those +who say you use witchcraft."</p> + +<p>He flung back his head and laughed out at that. Don Manuel was +startled, and broke off in the middle of a line, to the relief of +Master Dangerfield, a-nod over his wine. "The only craft I use is +seacraft, señora," Beauvallet said. "I wear no charms, but I was born, +so they tell me, when Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction. A happy +omen! All honour to them!" He raised his cup to these planets, and +drank to them.</p> + +<p>"Alchemy is a snare, as also astrology," said Don Manuel sternly. "I +regard the tenets of Paracelsus as pernicious, señor, but I believe +they are much studied and thought of in England. A creed both absurd +and heretical! Why, I have heard a man doubt but that his neighbour +was born under the sign of Sagittarius for no better reason than that +he had a ruddy cheek, or a chestnut beard. Likewise you will meet +those who will not stir beyond their doors without they have a piece +of coral about them, or a sapphire to give them courage, or some other +such toys, fit only for children or infidels. Then you will hear talk +of the sky's division into Houses, this one governing such-and-such a +thing, and that some other. A silly conceit, obtaining credulity of the +foolish." Thus Don Manuel disposed of Paracelsus, very summarily.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The second day was very bright, with a hot sun beating down upon the +sea, and a stiff breeze blowing to fill the sails. Don Manuel remained +below on his bunk, worn and shaken by the agitations and exertions of +the previous day. He made a poor breakfast of sops dipped in wine, and +sent his daughter from him. He shook with fever, and complained of the +headache. Hovering assiduously about him was his own man, Bartolomeo, +but he had also Joshua Dimmock to attend to his wants. This was done +mighty expertly. Joshua discoursed learnedly on several fevers, and, +not sharing Don Manuel's views on the Chaldean creed, prescribed the +wearing of some chips from a gallows as a certain cure. These he +produced from somewhere about his person, and expatiated fervently +upon their magical properties. Don Manuel waved them testily aside, +but consented to drink a strong cordial, which, he was assured, came +straight from the stillroom of my Lady Beauvallet herself, a dame +well-versed in these mysteries.</p> + +<p>"A sure potion, señor, as I have proved," Joshua told him, "containing +julep and angelica, a handful of juniper-berries, and betony, as also +mithridate (so I believe), not to mention wormwood, which the world +knows to be very potent against all manner of fevers. The whole, noble +señor, steeped in a spirit of wine by my lady's own hands, and sealed +up tightly, as you perceive. Deign only to test of its values!"</p> + +<p>Don Manuel drank off the cordial, and was assured of a speedy +recovery. But Joshua shook his head secretly over the case, and told +Sir Nicholas, in his private ear, that he carried a dying man aboard +the <i>Venture</i>.</p> + +<p>"I know it," Beauvallet said briefly. "If I read well the signs the +<i>cameras de sangre</i> is in him."</p> + +<p>"I observed it, sir. At a glance, you would say. His man—a lank, +melancholic fool if ever I saw one!—stands prating of quotidian +fevers, but no, quoth I, say rather the <i>cameras de sangre</i>, dolt. I +shall poke out the folds of the ruff, please you, sir." He performed +this office for Sir Nicholas, and stood back to regard his handiwork. +The poking-stick was levelled at Sir Nicholas next by way of emphasis. +"Moreover, master, and mark you well! it is not to be considered a +favourable omen. By no means! A death portends disaster. I do not +speak of such willy-nilly deaths as might chance in battle. That is +understood. A lingering sickness is another and quite different matter. +We must set the worthy señor ashore with all speed."</p> + +<p>"How now! What's this, rogue?" demanded Beauvallet, lying back in his +chair. "Set him ashore where and for what?"</p> + +<p>"I judge the Canaries to be a convenient spot, sir. The reason is made +clear: he must die upon land—or at least upon another ship than ours. +We need not concern ourselves with that." He ducked quickly to avoid a +boot hurled at his head.</p> + +<p>"Cullion!" Beauvallet apostrophised him. "Curb that prattling cheat of +yours! We set the gentleman ashore in Spain. Mark that!"</p> + +<p>Joshua picked up the boot, and knelt to help Sir Nicholas put it on, no +whit abashed. "I shall take leave to say, master, that this is to put +our heads in a noose again."</p> + +<p>"Be sure yours will end there one day," said Sir Nicholas cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"As to that, sir, <i>I</i> do not go roystering up and down the world, +sacking and plundering," replied Joshua, entirely without venom. "A +gentle thrust, sir, and we have the boot on. So!" He smoothed a wrinkle +from the soft Cordovan leather, and held ready the second boot. "You +are to understand, sir, that it is no matter to me, for it was clearly +proved in the reading of my horoscope that I should die snug in my bed. +It would be well to have your horoscope cast, master, that we may know +what to beware of."</p> + +<p>"Beware your bed, dizzard, and get you hence!" Beauvallet recommended. +"You tempt me overmuch." He made a short, suggestive movement of his +arched foot.</p> + +<p>"That, master," said Joshua philosophically, "is as may be, and at your +worship's pleasure. I do not gainsay you have the right. But I shall +take leave to say withal that this junketting upon the high seas with a +wench aboard—nay two——"</p> + +<p>"What?" Beauvallet roared, and jerked himself upright in his chair.</p> + +<p>Joshua's shrewd grey eyes widened. "Oho! Pardon, sir, a lady was the +word. But it's all the same, by your good leave, or rather worse, if +the wind sits in that quarter with you. However, I say nothing. But +it's against all custom and proper usage, and I misdoubt me an evil +chance may befall."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet fell to stroking his pointed beard, seeing him at which +significant trick Joshua backed strategically to the door. "An evil +chance will without any doubt at all shortly befall you, my friend," +said Sir Nicholas, and came to his feet, "At the toe of my boot!"</p> + +<p>"If that is your humour, sir, I withdraw with all speed," said Joshua +promptly, and retired nimbly.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet swung out in his wake, and went up on deck to oversee an +inventory of the <i>Santa Maria's</i> cargo in the waist.</p> + +<p>Thus Doña Dominica, when she came up on deck to take the air, chanced +upon a sight that made her curl her lip, and lift her chin. She +wandered to the quarterdeck and stood looking down into the waist, +where bales of cloth were lying, and where ingots were being weighed +upon a rough scale. Master Dangerfield had a sheet of paper and an +inkhorn upon an upturned cask, and wrote carefully thereon while a +stout, hairy fellow called weights and numbers. Near him, upon another +cask, lounged Beauvallet, with a hand on his hip, and a booted leg +swinging. His attention was held by what was going forward about him; +he did not observe my lady upon the deck above.</p> + +<p>You are to know that this seeming piracy was a sort of licensed affair, +a guerilla warfare waged upon King Philip II of Spain, who certainly +provoked it. Englishmen had a lively hatred of Spain, induced by a +variety of causes. There was, many years ago, the affair of Sir John +Hawkins at San Juan de Ulloa, an instance of Spanish treachery that +would not soon be forgot; there was grim persecution at work in the +Low Countries which must make any honest man's blood boil; and a Holy +Inquisition in Spain that had swallowed up in hideous manner many +stout sailormen captured on English vessels. If you wished to seek +farther you had only to observe the way Spain used towards the natives +of the Indies. It should suffice you. On top of all there was the +abundant pride of Spain, who chose to think herself mistress of the +Old World and the New. It remained for Elizabeth, Queen of England by +God's Grace, to abate this overweening conceit. In this she was ably +assisted by such men as Drake, bluff, roaring man, and Beauvallet, his +friend; Frobisher and Gilbert; Davis and the Hawkins, father, sons, and +grandson. They put forth into Spanish waters without misgiving, and +harried King Philip mightily. They laboured under a belief—and you +could not rid them of it—that one Englishman was worth a round dozen +of Spaniards. Events proved them to be justified in their belief.</p> + +<p>Nicholas Beauvallet, a younger son, spent the restlessness of his youth +in wanderings upon the Continent, as befitted his station. He left his +England a boy overflowing with such a spirit of dare-devilry that his +father and his elder brother prophesied it would lead him to disaster. +He came back to it a man seasoned and tried, but it was not to be seen +that the dare-devilry had departed from him. His brother, succeeding +to their father's room, shook a grave head, and called him Italianate, +a ruffler, a veritable swashbuckler, and wondered that he would not be +still. Nicholas refused to fulfil his family's expectations. He must be +off on his adventures again. He went to sea; he made some little noise +about the New World, and in due course accompanied Drake on his voyage +round the world. With that master mariner he passed the Straits of +Magellan, saw the sack of Valparaiso, reached the far Pelew Islands, +and Mindanao, and came home round the perilous Cape of Storms, bronzed +of face, and hard of muscle, and rich beyond the dreams of man.</p> + +<p>This was well enough, no doubt, but Gerard Beauvallet, a sober man, +judged it time to be done with such traffickings. Nicholas had won +an honourable knighthood; let him settle down now, choose a suitable +bride, and provide the heirs that came not to my Lady Beauvallet. +Instead of this, incorrigible Nicholas had sailed away, after the +briefest of intervals, this time in a ship of his own. So far from +conducting himself like a respectable landowner, such as his brother +wished him to be, he seemed to be concerned only to make a strong noise +about the world. This he did with complete success. There was only one +Drake, but also there was only one Beauvallet. The Spaniards coupled +the two names together, but made of Beauvallet a kind of devil. Drake +performed the impossible in the only possible way; the Spaniards said +that El Beauvallet performed it in an impossible way, and feared him +accordingly. As for his own men, they held him in some affection, and +believed firmly in his luck and in his genius. They thought him clearly +mad, but his madness was profitable, and they had long ceased to wonder +at anything he might take it into his head to do. They might be trusted +to follow where he led, knowing by experience that he would not lead +them to disaster. His master, Patrick Howe, of bearded mien, would wag +a solemn finger. "Look you, we win because our Nick cannot fail. He is +bird-eyed for opportunity, and blind to danger, and he laughs his way +out of every peril we come to. Mad? Ay, you may say so."</p> + +<p>The truth was that Sir Nicholas would swoop lightning-swift into some +hare-brained emprise and be off again victorious while you stood a-gape +at his hardihood.</p> + +<p>Thus with his sweeping off of Doña Dominica, before she had time to +fetch her breath. And all with no more than a careless snap of the +fingers, as it were. Oh, a hardy fellow, God wot!</p> + +<p>Dominica thought of all this as she stood looking down at him now, +and since Beauvallet paid no heed to her, nor ever looked up towards +the deck where she stood she presently gave vent to a scornful little +laugh, and remarked to the chasing clouds:—"A merchant, counting +stolen goods!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet looked quickly up. The sun was on his uncovered head, and in +his blue eyes; he put up a hand to shade them. "My Lady Disdain! Give +you a thousand good-morrows!"</p> + +<p>"The morrow will not be good while I am upon such a ship as this," she +said provocatively.</p> + +<p>"Now what's amiss?" demanded Sir Nicholas, and sprang down from the +cask. "What ails the ship?"</p> + +<p>He was halfway up the companion, which was maybe what she wanted, but +she would not have him know that. "Pray you, stay below amongst your +gains, señor."</p> + +<p>He was beside her on the deck now, swung a leg over the rail, and sat +there like some careless boy. "What's amiss?" he repeated. "More dust +in the alleyway?"</p> + +<p>She gave the smallest of sniffs. "There is this amiss, señor, that this +is a pirate vessel, and you are mine enemy!"</p> + +<p>"That in your teeth, my lass!" he said gaily. "I am no enemy of yours."</p> + +<p>She tried to look witheringly upon him, but it seemed to have no +effect. "You are the declared enemy of all Spaniards, señor, and well I +know it."</p> + +<p>"But I have it in mind, sweetheart, to make an Englishwoman of you," +said Beauvallet frankly.</p> + +<p>She was fairly taken aback. She gasped, flushed, and clenched her +little hands.</p> + +<p>"Now where's that dagger?" said Beauvallet, watching her in some +amusement.</p> + +<p>She flounced round on her heel, and swept away to the poop. She was +outraged and speechless, but she could still wonder whether he would +follow. She need have been in no doubt. He let her gain the poop, out +of sight of his men, and came up with her there. He set his hands on +her shoulders, and twisted her round to face him. The teasing light +went out of his eyes, and his voice was softened. "Lady, you called +me a mocker, but for once I do not jest. Hear my solemn promise! I +will make you an Englishwoman before a year is gone by. And so seal my +bond." He bent his handsome head quickly, and kissed her lips before +she could stop him.</p> + +<p>She cried out indignantly, and her hands flew to avenge the insult. But +he had her measure, and was ready for the swift reprisal. She found her +hands caught and imprisoned, and his face close above hers, smiling +down into her angry eyes. "Will you rate me for a knave, or pity me for +a poor mad fellow?" said Sir Nicholas, teasing again.</p> + +<p>"I hate you!" she said, and spoke with some passion "I despise you, and +I hate you!"</p> + +<p>He let her go. "Hate me? But why?"</p> + +<p>She brushed her hand across her lips, as though she would brush his +kiss away. "How dared you——!" she choked. "Hold me—kiss me! Oh, +base! It's to insult me!" She fled towards the companion leading down +to the staterooms.</p> + +<p>He was before her, barring the way. "Hold, child! Here's some tangle. I +would wed you. Did I not say it?"</p> + +<p>She stamped, tried to push past him, and failed. "You will never wed +me!" she defied him. "You are ungenerous, base! You hold me prisoner, +and do as you will with me!"</p> + +<p>He had her fast indeed, with his hands gripping her arms above the +elbows. He shook her slightly. "Nay nay, there's no talk of prisoners +or of goalers, Dominica, but only of a man and a maid. What harm have I +done you?"</p> + +<p>"You forced me! You dared to kiss me, and held me powerless!"</p> + +<p>"I cry pardon. But you may stab me with mine own dagger, sweeting. See, +it is ready to your hand. A swift, sure revenge! No? What will you have +me do, then?" His hands slid down her arms to her wrists; he bent, and +kissed her fingers. "There! let it be forgot—until I kiss you again." +That was said with a quick whimsical glance, daringly irrepressible.</p> + +<p>"That will be never, señor."</p> + +<p>"And so she flings down her gauntlet. I pick it up, my lady, and will +give you a Spanish proverb for answer:—<i>Vivir para ver!</i>"</p> + +<p>"You will scarcely wed me by force," she retorted. "Even you!"</p> + +<p>He considered the point. "True, child, that were too easy a course."</p> + +<p>"I warrant you would not find it so!"</p> + +<p>"Marry, is it yet another challenge?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>She drew back a pace. "You would not!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, have I not said I will not? Be at ease, ye shall have a royal +wooing."</p> + +<p>"And where will you woo me?" she asked scornfully. "My home is in the +very heart of Spain, I'd have you know."</p> + +<p>"Be sure I shall follow you there," he promised, and laughed to see her +face of incredulous wonder.</p> + +<p>"Braggart! Oh, idle boaster! How should you dare?"</p> + +<p>"Look for me in Spain before a year is out," he answered. "My hand upon +it."</p> + +<p>"There is a Holy Inquisition in Spain, señor," she reminded him.</p> + +<p>"There is, señora," he said rather grimly, and produced from out his +doublet a book bound in leather. "And it is like to have you in its +clutches if you keep such dangerous stuff as this about you, my lass," +he said.</p> + +<p>She turned pale, and clasped her hands nervously at her bosom. "Where +found you that?" The breath caught in her throat.</p> + +<p>"In your cabin aboard the <i>Santa Maria</i>, child. If that is the mind you +are in the sooner I have you safe out of Spain the better for you." +He gave the book into her hands. "Hide it close, or sail with me to +England."</p> + +<p>"Do not tell my father!" she said urgently.</p> + +<p>"Why, can you not trust me? Oh, unkind!"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is no affair of yours, señor," she said, recovering her +dignity. "I thank you for my book. Now let me pass."</p> + +<p>"I have a name, child. I believe I made you free of it."</p> + +<p>She swept a curtsey. "Oh, I thank you—Sir Nicholas Beauvallet!" she +mocked, and fled past him down the companion.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Doña Dominica thought it imperative that Beauvallet's impudence should +be suitably punished, and took it upon herself to perform this pious +office. Master Dangerfield was a tool ready to her hand; she sought +him out, cast a thrall about that susceptible lad, and flirted with +him, somewhat to his embarrassment. She brought her long eyelashes into +play, the minx, was all honey to him, and flattered the vanity of the +youthful male. She used a distant courtesy towards Beauvallet, listened +when he spoke to her, folded meek hands in her lap, and turned back to +Master Dangerfield at the first chance. Beauvallet had stately curtseys +and cool impersonalities from her; she let it be clearly seen that +Dangerfield could have if he chose a hand to kiss, her smiles, and her +chatter. Master Dangerfield was duly grateful, but showed a lamentable +tendency to set her high upon a pedestal. At another time this might +have pleased her, but she had now no mind to play the goddess. She was +at pains to show Master Dangerfield that he might dare to venture a +little further.</p> + +<p>But all this strategy failed of its object. Doña Dominica, out of +the tail of her eye, saw with indignation the frank amusement of Sir +Nicholas. Beauvallet stood back and watched the play with a laughing, +an appreciative eye. The lady redoubled her efforts.</p> + +<p>She was forced to admit Dangerfield dull sport, and chid herself for +hankering after the livelier company of his General. With him one +met the unexpected; there was a spice of risk to savour the game, an +element of adventure to whet the appetite. She would come up with +Dangerfield on the deck, stand at his side and ask him questions +innumerable upon the sailing of a ship, and appear to listen rapt to +his conscientious answers. But all the time she had a quick ear and a +vigilant eye for Sir Nicholas, and when she heard his ringing voice, or +saw him come with his quick light step across the deck she would feel +her pulses beat the faster, and dread a rising blush. Nor could she +ever withstand the force in him that compelled her to meet his look. +She might fight against it, but soon or late she must steal a glance +towards him, and find his eyes, brimful of laughter, upon her, his +hands lightly laid on his hips, his feet firmly planted and wide apart, +mockery in his every line.</p> + +<p>Since pride forbade her to give him her company she found a certain +solace in talking of him to his lieutenant. Master Dangerfield was +willing enough, but he was shocked to hear what an ill opinion she had +of the hero. He could allow that Sir Nicholas had maybe too boisterous +and reckless a way to suit a lady's taste, but when Dominica poured +more scorn upon Beauvallet the boy was moved to protest. It was likely +that she wanted this.</p> + +<p>"I marvel that you breed such ruffling bullies in England, señor," she +said, nose in air.</p> + +<p>"A bully?" Dangerfield echoed. "Sir Nicholas? Why, I believe you must +not say so aboard this ship, señora."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am not afraid!" Dominica declared.</p> + +<p>"You have little need to be, señora. But you speak to Sir Nicholas' +lieutenant. Maybe we who serve under him know him better."</p> + +<p>At that she opened her eyes very wide indeed. "What, are you all +besotted then? Do you like the man so well?"</p> + +<p>He smiled down at her. "Most men like him, señora. He is very much—a +man, you see."</p> + +<p>"Very much a braggart," she corrected, curling her lip.</p> + +<p>"No, señora, indeed. I allow he has the manner. But I have never known +him promise what he has not performed. If you knew him better——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, spare me, señor! Wish me no better knowledge of your bully."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he is too swift for you. He goes too straight towards his goal +for a lady's taste, and uses no subtleties."</p> + +<p>She pounced on that, and put the question that had long hovered on her +tongue. "I take it your English ladies think as I think, señor?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I believe they like him very well," Dangerfield replied, smiling +a little. "Too well for his desires."</p> + +<p>Dominica saw the smile. "I make no doubt he is a great trifler."</p> + +<p>Dangerfield shook his head. "Nay, he is merry in his dealings, but I +believe he will stay for no woman."</p> + +<p>Dominica spent a moment pondering that. Dangerfield plodded on +painstakingly. "I would not have you think though that he holds women +in poor esteem, señora. Indeed, I think he is gentle with your sex."</p> + +<p>"Gentle!" the lady ejaculated. "I marvel you can say so! A rough fellow +I have found him! A boisterous, rough fellow!"</p> + +<p>"You have naught to fear from him, señora," Dangerfield said seriously. +"On my honour, he would not offer hurt to one weaker than himself."</p> + +<p>Dominica was affronted. "I fear him? Señor, know that I do not fear him +or anyone!" she announced fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Brave lass!" applauded a voice behind her. Dominica jumped, and turned +to see Beauvallet lounging against the bulwarks. He held out his hand +invitingly. "Then since you have no fear of him, come and talk with the +boisterous, rough fellow."</p> + +<p>Master Dangerfield beat a discreet retreat, and basely left the lady +alone. She tapped a slender foot on the deck. "I do not wish to talk +with you, señor."</p> + +<p>"I am not a señor, child."</p> + +<p>"True, Sir Nicholas."</p> + +<p>"Come!" he insisted, and his eyes were bright and searching.</p> + +<p>"Not at your bidding, Sir Nicholas," said Dominica haughtily.</p> + +<p>"At my most humble prayer!" But his look belied the words.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, I am very well where I am," Dominica said, and turned her +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"The mountain would not. Well, there was a sequel." He was at her side +in two steps, and instinctively she drew back in some kind of enjoyable +alarm. He frowned quickly at that, and set his hands on her shoulders. +"Why do you shrink? Do you think I would offer you hurt indeed?"</p> + +<p>"No—that is, I do not know at all, señor, and nor do I care!"</p> + +<p>"Brave words, but still you shrank. What, do you know so little of me +even now? You shall be better acquainted with me, I promise you."</p> + +<p>"You are hurting me! Let me go!"</p> + +<p>He held her slightly away from him, and seemed to puzzle over her. "How +do I hurt you? By holding you thus?"</p> + +<p>"Your fingers grip me well-nigh to the bone," said Dominica crossly.</p> + +<p>He smiled. "I am not gripping you at all, sweetheart, and well you know +it."</p> + +<p>"Let me go!"</p> + +<p>"But if I do you will run away," he pointed out.</p> + +<p>"I wonder that you desire to talk to one who—who hates you!"</p> + +<p>"Not I, child. But you do not hate me."</p> + +<p>"I do! I do!"</p> + +<p>"God's Death, then, why do you play poor Diccon on your line to tease +me?"</p> + +<p>That was too much for the lady. She hit him, full across his smiling +mouth.</p> + +<p>It was no sooner done that she knew a frightened leap of the heart, an +instant regret, for he swooped quickly, caught her hands fast in his, +and locked them behind her back. She looked up, in part afraid, in part +defiant, and saw him laughing still.</p> + +<p>"Now what do you think you deserve of me?" Beauvallet asked.</p> + +<p>She had recourse to her strongest weapon, and burst into tears. She was +set free on the instant.</p> + +<p>"Sweetheart, sweetheart!" Beauvallet said remorsefully. "Here's no +matter for tears! What, am I so grim an ogre? I did but tease you, +child. Look up! Nay, but smile! See, I will kiss the very hem of your +gown! Only do not weep!" He was on his knee before her; she looked +down through her tears at his bent head, more shaken still, and heard +footsteps coming up the companion leading from the waist of the ship. +She touched Beauvallet's crisp hair fleetingly. "Oh, do not! One +comes—get up, get up!"</p> + +<p>He sprang up as his Master appeared at the head of the companion, and +stepped quickly forward to shield Dominica from this worthy's notice.</p> + +<p>It was easily possible now for her to escape below decks. Sir Nicholas' +attention was held by his Master; the way lay open to her. Doña +Dominica walked to the bulwarks, and carefully dried her eyes, and +stood looking out to sea.</p> + +<p>In a minute or two the Master's retreating steps sounded, and a lighter +footfall, nearer at hand. Beauvallet's fingers covered hers as they lay +on the rail. "Forgive the rough, boisterous fellow!" he begged.</p> + +<p>The tone won her; a dimple peeped, and was gone. "You use me +monstrously," complained Dominica.</p> + +<p>"But you do not hate me?"</p> + +<p>She left that unanswered. "I cannot find it in me to envy the lady you +take to wife," she said.</p> + +<p>"Nay, how should you?"</p> + +<p>She looked sharply up at that, blushed, and turned her face away. "I do +not know how the English ladies can bear with you, señor."</p> + +<p>He looked merrily down at her. "Why, I have not called upon them to +bear with me, señora."</p> + +<p>She faced him suddenly. "You will scarce have me believe you have not +trifled often and often!" she said hotly. "No doubt ye deem women of +small account!"</p> + +<p>"I do not deem you of small account, child."</p> + +<p>She smiled disdainfully. "You are mightily apt. Do you use this manner +with the English ladies, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, sweetheart, this is the manner I use," Sir Nicholas answered, and +promptly kissed her.</p> + +<p>Dominica choked, pushed him violently away, and fled down the companion +to her cabin. She found her woman there, and was at once conscious of +a heightened colour, and ruffled hair. Maria, noting these portents +and the storm in her mistress' eyes, set her arms akimbo and looked +fiercely. "That bully!" she said darkly. "He has insulted you, +señorita? He dared to lay his hands on you?"</p> + +<p>Dominica was biting her handkerchief; her eyes looked this way and +that, and at the end she laughed uneasily. "He kissed me," she said.</p> + +<p>"I will tear the eyes from his head!" vowed Maria, and made for the +door.</p> + +<p>"Silly wench! Fond fool! Stay still!" Dominica commanded.</p> + +<p>"You shall not again stir forth without me to be your duenna, +señorita," promised Maria.</p> + +<p>Dominica stamped her foot. "Oh, blind! I wanted him to kiss me!"</p> + +<p>Maria's jaw dropped. "Señorita!"</p> + +<p>Dominica gave a tiny laugh. "He swears he will come into Spain to seek +me. If he but dared!"</p> + +<p>"Not even an Englishman would be fool enough, señorita."</p> + +<p>"Alack, no!" Dominica sighed. "But if he did—oh, I become infected +with his madness!" She lifted the tiny mirror that hung at her girdle, +and frowned at her own reflection. A pat here and a twist there, and +she had her curls demure again under the net. She let fall the mirror, +blushed to see Maria still wondering at her, and was off to visit her +father.</p> + +<p>She found Joshua Dimmock in the cabin, vociferous in defence of his +gallows' chips, which he believed, privately, might serve at least to +stave off Don Manuel's death until he was set safe ashore.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel looked wearily at his daughter. "Is there none to rid me of +this fool?" he said.</p> + +<p>Joshua tried the effect of coaxing. "See, señor, I have them safe tied +in a sachet. I bought them of a very holy man, versed in these matters. +If you would but wear them about your neck I might vouch for a certain +cure."</p> + +<p>"Bartolomeo, set wide that door," commanded Don Manuel. "Now, fellow, +depart from me!"</p> + +<p>"Most gracious señor——"</p> + +<p>Bartolomeo fell back from the open doorway, bowing. A voice that to +Dominica's fancy seemed to hold all the sunshine and the salt wind of +fine days at sea smote her ears. "What's this?"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas stood on the threshold.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel raised himself on his elbow. "Señor, in good time! Rid me of +your knave there, and his damnable chips from a gallows!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet came quickly in, saw Joshua standing aggrieved by the side +of the bunk, and caught him by the nape of the neck, and with no more +ado hurled him forth. He kicked the door to behind him, and stood +looking down at Don Manuel. "Is there aught else I may do for you, +señor? You have but to name it."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel lay back against the pillows and smiled wrily. "You are +short in your dealings, señor."</p> + +<p>"But to the point, you'll allow. I am come to see how you do this +morning. The fever still hath you in its hold?"</p> + +<p>"A little." Don Manuel frowned a warning. Beauvallet turned his head to +observe the reason of this. Dominica was standing stiffly by the table.</p> + +<p>It seemed this abominable man must be everywhere at once. One's own +cabin was the only safe retreat. She moved stately to the door. +Bartolomeo went to open it, but was put aside by a careless hand. Sir +Nicholas held the door wide, and my lady went out with a quickened step.</p> + +<p>"You, too, Bartolomeo," Don Manuel said, and lay watching Beauvallet. +He fetched a stifled sigh. This handsome man with his springing step +and alert carriage seemed to the sick gentleman the very embodiment of +life and health.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet came to the bunk, and pulled a joint-stool forward, and sat +down upon it. "You want to speak with me, señor?"</p> + +<p>"I want to speak with you." Don Manuel plucked at the sheet that +covered him. "Señor, since first you brought us aboard this ship you +have not again spoken of our disposal."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet raised his brows quickly. "I thought I had made myself +plain, señor. I shall set you ashore on the northern coast of Spain."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel tried to read the face before him; the blue eyes looked +straightly; under the neat mustachio the mouth was firm and humorous. +If Beauvallet had secrets he hid them well under a frank exterior. "Am +I to believe you serious, señor?"</p> + +<p>"Never more so, upon my honour. Wherefore all this pother over a very +simple matter?"</p> + +<p>"Is it, then, so simple to put into a Spanish port, señor?"</p> + +<p>"To say truth, señor, your countrymen have not yet learned the trick of +capturing Nick Beauvallet. God send them a better education, cry you!"</p> + +<p>Don Manuel spoke gravely. "Señor, you are an enemy—a dangerous +enemy—to my country, yet, believe me, I should be sorry to see you +taken."</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks, señor. You will certainly not see it. I was born in +a fortunate hour."</p> + +<p>"I have had enough of portents and omens, señor, from your servant. I +make bold to say that if you set us ashore in Spain you place your life +in jeopardy. And for what? It is madness! I can find no other name for +it."</p> + +<p>The firm lips parted; there was a gleam of white teeth. "Call it +Beauvallet's way, señor."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel said nothing, but lay still, watching his captor and host. +After a minute he spoke again. "You are a strange man, señor. For many +years I have heard wild tales of you, and believed, perhaps, a quarter +of them. You constrain me to lend ear to the wildest of them." He +paused, but Beauvallet only smiled again. "If, indeed, you speak in +good faith I stand infinitely beholden to you. Yet you might act in the +best of faith and fail of such a foolhardy endeavour."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas swung his pomander on the end of its chain. "God rest you, +señor: I shall not fail."</p> + +<p>"I pray in this instance you may not. It does not need for me to tell +you that my days are numbered. I would end them in Spain, señor."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet held up his hand. "My oath on it, señor. You shall end them +there," he said gently.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel stirred restlessly. "I must set my house in order, I leave +my daughter alone in the world. There is my sister. But the child had +traffickings with Lutherans, and I misdoubt me——" He broke off, +sighing.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet came to his feet. "Señor, give me ear a minute!"</p> + +<p>Don Manuel looked up at him, and saw him serious for once. "I attend, +señor."</p> + +<p>"When I approach my chosen goal, señor, I march straight. That you may +have heard of me. Let it go. I make you privy now to a new goal I have +sworn to reach, a fair prize. The day will come, Don Manuel, when I +shall take your daughter to wife."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel's eyelids fluttered a moment. "Do you tell me, señor, that +you love my daughter?" he asked sternly.</p> + +<p>"Madly, señor, I make no doubt you would say."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel looked more sternly still. "And she? No, it is not possible!"</p> + +<p>"Why, as to that, señor, I do not know. I am not over-apt with maids. +She will love me one day."</p> + +<p>"Señor, be plain with me. What is this riddle you propound?"</p> + +<p>"None, señor. Here is only the plain truth. I might bear Dominica away +to England, and thus constrain her——"</p> + +<p>"You would not!" Don Manuel cried out sharply.</p> + +<p>"Nay, I constrain no maid against her will, be assured. But you will +allow it to be clearly within my power." He paused, and his eyes +questioned.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel watched the swing of the golden pomander from long fingers, +looked higher, and met the imperative gaze. "We are in your hands I +know full well," he said evenly.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet nodded. "But that easy course is not the one I will take, +señor. Nor am I one to enact the part of ravisher, of betrayer. I will +take you to Spain, and there leave you. But, señor—and mark me well! +for what I swear I will do that I shall certainly do, though the sun +die and the moon fall, and the earth be wholly overset!—I shall come +later into Spain, and seek out your daughter, and ride away with her on +my saddle-bow!" His voice seemed to fill the room, vibrating with some +leaping passion. A moment he looked down at Don Manuel with a glint in +his eyes, and his beard jutting outwards with his lifted chin. Then the +fire left him as suddenly as it had sprung up, and he laughed softly, +and the glitter went out of his eyes. "Judge you by this, señor, if I +do truly love her as you would have her loved!"</p> + +<p>There was silence. Don Manuel turned his head away on the pillow and +brushed the sheet with one restless hand. "Señor," he said at last, "if +you were not an enemy and a heretic, I would choose to give my daughter +to just such a one as you." He smiled faintly at the quick surprise in +Beauvallet's face. "Ay, señor, but you are both these things, and it +is impossible. Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Señor, a word I do not know. I have warned you. Take what precaution +you will, but whether you are quick or dead, I shall have your +daughter, in spite of anything you may do."</p> + +<p>"Sir Nicholas, you have a brave spirit, and that I like in you. I have +no need to take precautions, for you could never penetrate into Spain."</p> + +<p>"God be my witness, señor, I shall penetrate."</p> + +<p>"You must needs be forsworn, señor. At sea you may be a match for us, +but how might you dare face all Spain in Spain itself?"</p> + +<p>"I shall certainly dare, señor," said Sir Nicholas calmly.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel seemed to shrug his shoulders. "I see, señor, there is to be +no ho with you. You may be but an idle boaster, or a madman, as they +say—I know not. I could wish you were a Spaniard. There is no more to +say."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Don Manuel took an early opportunity of finding out, as he imagined, +what were his daughter's feelings. He asked her without preamble how +she liked Sir Nicholas. God knows what the poor gentleman thought to +get from her.</p> + +<p>"Very ill, señor," said she.</p> + +<p>"I fear me," said Don Manuel, closely watching her, "that he likes you +too well, child."</p> + +<p>Dominica perceived that she was being tested, and achieved a scornful +laugh. "Unhappy man! But it's an impertinence."</p> + +<p>Don Manuel was entirely satisfied. Liking Beauvallet well enough +himself he could even be sorry that his daughter had conceived so +vehement a distaste for him. "I am sorry that he is what he is," he +said. "I could find it in me to like a man of his mettle."</p> + +<p>"A boaster," said Dominica, softly scornful.</p> + +<p>"One would say so indeed. But before we set sail, Dominica, methought +you made some sort of a hero of him in your mind. You were always eager +to hear tell of his deeds."</p> + +<p>"I had not met him then, señor," Dominica answered primly.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel smiled. "Well, he is a wild fellow. I am glad you have sense +enough to see it. But use him gently, child, for we stand somewhat +beholden to him. He swears to set us ashore in Spain, and <i>madre de +dios</i>! I believe he will do it, though how I know not."</p> + +<p>The upshot of all this was to make Dominica curious to know +Beauvallet's plans. She tackled Master Dangerfield about it that very +evening as he played at cards with her in the stateroom, and demanded +to know what his general had in mind. Master Dangerfield professed +ignorance, and was not believed. "What!" said my lady, incredulous. "I +am not to suppose you are not in his confidence, señor, surely! It is +just that you will not tell me."</p> + +<p>"Upon my oath, señora, no!" Dangerfield assured her. "Sir Nicholas +keeps his counsel. Ask your question of him: he will tell you, I doubt +not."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I desire to have no traffic with him," said my lady, and applied +herself to the cards again.</p> + +<p>There came soon enough what she had hoped to hear: a bluff voice, a +brisk tread, a laugh echoing along the alleyway. The door was flung +open; Beauvallet came in, with a word tossed over his shoulder for +someone outside. "Save you, lady!" quoth he. "Diccon, there is a trifle +of business calls you. Give me your cards; I will endeavour."</p> + +<p>Dangerfield gave up his cards at once, and bowed excuses to the lady. +As always, Beauvallet left her without a word to say. Truth to tell she +was glad to have him in Dangerfield's stead, but why could he not ask +her permission?</p> + +<p>He sat down in Dangerfield's chair; Dangerfield, with his hand on the +door, paused to say, smiling: "Doña Dominica hath all the luck, sir, as +you shall find."</p> + +<p>"And you none, Diccon. I may believe it. But I will back myself against +her. Away with you." He flicked a card out from his hand, and smiled +across the table at Dominica. "To the death, lady!"</p> + +<p>Doña Dominica played to his lead in silence. He won the encounter at +length. She bit her lip, but took it with a good grace. "Yes, señor, +you win." She watched him playing with the cards, and folded her hands. +"I shall not pit my skill against yours."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas put down the pack. "Then let us talk a little," he said. +"It likes me much better. How does Don Manuel find himself?"</p> + +<p>A shadow crossed her face. "I think him very sick, señor. I have to +thank you for sending your surgeon to visit him."</p> + +<p>"No need of that."</p> + +<p>"My father tells me," Dominica said, "that you have sworn to set us +ashore in Spain. Pray, how may you accomplish that?"</p> + +<p>"Very simply," Sir Nicholas replied. He held his pomander to his nose, +and over it his eyes twinkled at her.</p> + +<p>"Well, señor, and how?" She was impatient. "I've no desire to witness +another fight at sea."</p> + +<p>"Nor shall you, fondling. What, do you suppose that Nick Beauvallet +would expose you to the risks Narvaez courted? Shame on you!"</p> + +<p>"Señor, are you so mad as to suppose that you can sail into a Spanish +port without a shot being fired?"</p> + +<p>"By no means, child. If I did so foolish a thing I might expect a +veritable hailstorm of shot about my head." He threw one leg over the +other, and continued to sniff at his pomander.</p> + +<p>"I see, señor, you have no mind to confide in me," said Dominica +stiffly.</p> + +<p>His shoulders shook. "Do I not answer your questions? You would know +more? Then ask me prettily, O my Lady Disdain!"</p> + +<p>Her eyes fell; she tried a change of front to see what might come of +it. "You have the right to flout me, señor. I am aware that I stand +beholden to you. Yet I think you might use me kindlier."</p> + +<p>The pomander fell. "Good lack!" said Beauvallet, startled. "What's +this?" He uncrossed his legs and stretched a hand to her across the +table. "Let there be no such talk betwixt us two, child. Ye stand in +no way beholden to me. Say that I do what I do to please myself, and +cry a truce!" The smile crept into his eyes. "Do I flout you? Now I had +thought that was your part."</p> + +<p>"I am helpless in your hands, señor," said Dominica mournfully. "If it +pleases you to make a mock of me you may do so without hindrance."</p> + +<p>This failed somewhat of its purpose. "Child, in a little I shall be +constrained to set you on my knee and kiss you," said Beauvallet.</p> + +<p>"I am helpless," she repeated, and would not look up.</p> + +<p>A quick frown came. He rose from his chair and came to kneel beside +hers. "Now what's your meaning, Dominica? Are you so cowed, so +submissive?" He caught a glimpse of the flash in her eyes and laughed. +"Oh, pretty cheat!" he said softly. "If I dared to touch you you would +be swift to strike."</p> + +<p>Her lip quivered irrepressibly; she looked through her lashes. He took +her hand and kissed it. "Well, what is it you would have me tell you?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"If you please," she said meekly, "where will you set us ashore?"</p> + +<p>"Some few miles to the west of Santander, sweetheart. There is a +smuggling village there will receive us peaceably."</p> + +<p>"Smugglers!" She looked up. "Oh, so you are that, too? I might have +known."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, acquit me," he smiled. "Look scorn instead upon my fat +boatswain. His is the blame. He was for many years in the trade, and +I believe knows every smuggling port in Europe. We may sail softly in +under cover of night, set you ashore, and be gone again before dawn."</p> + +<p>There was a pause. Dominica looked up at the arms on the wall, and said +slowly: "And so ends the adventure."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas rose to his feet again. "Do you think so indeed?"</p> + +<p>She was grave. "In spite of brave words, señor, I think so. Once in +Spain I shall be free—free of you!"</p> + +<p>He set his hand on his hip; his other hand played with his beard. She +should have been wary, but she did not know him so well as did his men. +"Lady," said Beauvallet, and she jumped at the note of strong purpose +in his voice, "the first of my name, the founder of my house, had, so +we read, another watchword than that." His hand flew out and pointed +to the scroll beneath his arms. "There is an old chronicle writ by one +Alan, afterwards Earl of Montlice, wherein we learn that Simon, the +first Baron of Beauvallet, took as his motto these words: '<i>I have not, +but still I hold</i>.'" His voice rang out, and died again.</p> + +<p>"Well, señor?" faltered Dominica.</p> + +<p>"I have you not yet, but be sure I hold you," said Beauvallet.</p> + +<p>She rallied. "This is folly."</p> + +<p>"Sweet folly."</p> + +<p>"I do not believe that you would dare set foot in Spain."</p> + +<p>"God's Death, do you not? But if I dare, indeed?"</p> + +<p>She looked down at her clasped hands.</p> + +<p>"Come! If I dare? If I reach to you in Spain, and claim you then? What +answer shall I have?"</p> + +<p>She was flushed, and her breast rose and fell fast. "Ah, if there were +a man brave enough to dare so much for love——!"</p> + +<p>"He stands before you. What will you give him?"</p> + +<p>She got up, a hand at her bosom. "If he dared so much—I should have to +give—myself, señor."</p> + +<p>"Remember that promise!" he warned her. "You shall be called upon to +redeem it before a year is out."</p> + +<p>She looked fearfully at him. "But how? how?"</p> + +<p>"Dear heart," said Beauvallet frankly, "I do not know, but I shall +certainly find a way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, an idle boast!" she cried, and went quickly to the door. His voice +stayed her; she paused and looked back over her shoulder. "Well, señor, +what more?"</p> + +<p>"My pledge," Beauvallet said, and slipped a ring from his finger. "Keep +Beauvallet's ring until Beauvallet comes to claim it."</p> + +<p>She took it, half unwilling. "What need of this?"</p> + +<p>"No need, but to remind you, maybe. Keep it close."</p> + +<p>It had his arms engraven upon it, a gold piece, heavy and cunningly +wrought. "I will keep it always," she said, "to remind me of—a madman."</p> + +<p>He smiled. "Oh, not always, sweetheart! A pledge is sometimes +redeemed—even by a madman."</p> + +<p>"Not this one," she said on a sigh, and went out.</p> + +<p>It seemed to her in the days that followed that Spain drew near all too +soon. They had fair weather, and for the most part a favourable wind to +bear them home. The Canaries were reached in good time, and Dominica +saw adventure's end in sight. She was gentler now with her impetuous +wooer, but aloof still, refusing to believe him. She let him teach +her English words, and lisped them after him prettily. She forbore +to entangle Master Dangerfield in her wiles: time was too short and +romance too sweet. Maybe she would have been glad enough, saving only +her father's presence, to be borne off to England, a conqueror's prize, +but if she had doubted Beauvallet's good faith at first these doubts +were soon lulled. He meant certainly to take her to Spain. She had both +a sigh and a smile for that, but it is certain that she honoured him +for it. For the rest she might not know what to believe. The man talked +in a heroic vein, and seemed to be undisturbed by any doubt of his own +omnipotence. He would have a poor maid believe him little less than +God. Well, one was not so poor a maid as that. Maybe it pleased his +strange, braggart fancy to cut a fine figure; surely he would forget +just so soon as he set foot on English soil.</p> + +<p>Doña Dominica had to admit her heart assailed dangerously. A certain +smile haunted her dreams, and would not be banished. Yet he was a +hardy rogue, surely. She could not say what there was in him to seize +her fancy; he used no courtier tricks, no elegant subtleties. You +would have no dropped knee, no sighs, no fashionable languishings from +Beauvallet. He would have an arm about a maid's waist before she was +aware, snatch a kiss, and be off again on his adventures. Oh, merry +ruffler! He was too direct, thought my lady, too swift, employed no +gentle arts in his wooing. She played with the idea that he was like a +strong wind, vigorous, salt-tanged. He had no repose; he must be here +and there, restless, so charged with vitality that it almost seemed to +brim over. See, too, his challenging eyes, wickedly inviting under the +down-dropped lids! Shame! Shame that one should know an answering leap +of the heart! He would swing past along the deck, a hand on his hip, +careless, heedless; one was bound to watch him, willy-nilly. He might +stop beside his Master a brief while; his quick, gay speech would be +borne back to one in snatches on the wind; one would see him fling out +a pointing hand, give a decisive shake to his neat black head, crack +some jest to set the Master chuckling, and be off down the companion to +mingle amongst his men.</p> + +<p>It seemed they held him in some esteem, no little awe. No good came +of an attempt to trifle with Sir Nicholas Beauvallet. He was a +leader to love, but one to fear withal. Doña Dominica, catching at +new-learned English words, heard stray comments, enough to show her +what Beauvallet's men thought of him. They thought him a rare jest, she +gathered, and pondered over the strange mentality of these English, who +spent their time in laughing. They did not behave thus in Spain.</p> + +<p>And Spain, with its courtly propriety, its etiquette, and its solemn +grandeur, grew nearer and ever nearer. Mad days at sea were nearly done +now, and adventure was coming to an end. Don Manuel, reclining on his +pillows, spoke of duennas; my lady hid a shudder and turned wistful +eyes towards Beauvallet. To one reared in the freedom of the New World +trammels of the Old would not be welcome. Don Manuel said severely that +he had permitted his daughter too great a license. Faith, the girl +thought for herself, was pert, he doubted, and certainly head-strong. +As witness her behaviour on board the <i>Santa Maria</i>. A maid surprised +by piratical marauders should have stood passive, a frozen statue of +martyrdom. A daughter of Spain had no business to kick, and bite, and +scratch, or to brandish daggers and spit venom upon her captors. Don +Manuel had been shocked indeed, but knew her well enough to forbear +comment. He trusted that his sister would find a strict duenna to +govern her. He had marriage plans in mind, too, and hinted as much to +her. He would see her safely bestowed, he said, and drew a fine picture +of her future life. Doña Dominica listened in growing horror, and +escaped from her father's cabin to the free air above.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried she, "are English ladies so hedged about, and guarded, and +confined, as we poor Spaniards?"</p> + +<p>They were in colder latitudes, and the wind bit shrewdly. Beauvallet +loosened the cloak about his shoulders, and clipped it fast about my +lady, so that it fell all about her. "Nay, I'll not confine you, sweet, +but I shall know how to guard my treasure, don't doubt it."</p> + +<p>She drew the cloak about her, and looked up, wide-eyed. "Do you in +England set vile duennas to watch your wives?" she asked.</p> + +<p>He shook his head. "We trust them, rather!"</p> + +<p>Her dimples quivered. "Oh, almost you persuade me, Sir Nicholas!" She +frowned a warning as his hand flew out towards her. "Fie, before your +men? I said 'almost,' señor. Know that my father plans my marriage."</p> + +<p>"A careful gentleman," said Beauvallet. "So, faith, do I."</p> + +<p>"If you came, indeed, into Spain you might haply find me wed, señor."</p> + +<p>A gleam came into his eyes, like a sword, she thought. "Might I so?" he +said, and the words demanded an answer.</p> + +<p>She looked away, trembled a little, smiled, frowned, and blushed. +"N-no," she said.</p> + +<p>Too soon the day came that saw Spanish shores to the southward. Don +Manuel braved the cold air on deck for a while, and followed the +direction of Beauvallet's pointing finger. "Thereabouts lies Santander, +señor. I shall set you ashore to-night."</p> + +<p>The day wore swiftly to its close. Dusk came, and my lady watched +Maria pack her chests. Maria stowed jewels away in a gold-bound box, +and jealously counted each trinket. She could never be at ease amongst +these English, but must always suspect darkly.</p> + +<p>My lady was seized by an odd fancy, and demanded to stow her jewels +with her own hands. She took the casket to the light, and laid its +contents out on the table, and debated over them with a look half +rueful, half tender. In the end she chose a thumb ring of gold, too +large for her little hand, too heavy for a lady's taste. She hid it in +her handkerchief and quickly locked up the case that Maria might not +discover the loss of one significant piece.</p> + +<p>In the soft darkness of the evening she flitted up on deck, a cloak +wrapped about her, and her oval face pale in the dim lamplight. The +ship made slow way now, the dark water lapping gently at her oaken +sides. There was a little bustle on the deck; she heard the Master's +voice raised: "Steady your helm!" She saw Beauvallet standing under the +light of a swinging lamp, with his boatswain beside him. The boatswain +held a lantern, and was peering into the darkness. Far away to the +south Dominica could see the little glow of lights, and knew that Spain +was reached at last.</p> + +<p>She stole up to Beauvallet unseen and laid a timid hand on his arm. He +looked quickly round, and at once his hand covered hers where it lay on +his latticed sleeve. "Why, child!"</p> + +<p>"I came—I wanted—I came to speak with you a minute," she said +uncertainly.</p> + +<p>He drew her apart, and stood looking down at her quizzically. "Speak, +child, I am listening."</p> + +<p>Her hand came out from the shelter of her cloak; in it she held the +golden ring. "Señor, you gave me a ring of yours to keep. I—I think +you will never see me again, and so—and so I would have you take this +ring of mine in memory of me."</p> + +<p>The ring and the hand that held it were alike caught in a strong hold. +She was swept out of the circle of light cast by the lamp above, and +stood face to face with Beauvallet in the friendly darkness. She felt +his arms go round her, and stood still, with her hands clasped at her +breast. He held her in a tight embrace, laid his cheek against her +curls, and murmured: "Sweetheart! Fondling!" Madness, madness, but it +was sweet to be mad just once in one's life! She lifted her face, put +up a hand to touch his bronzed cheek, and gave him back kisses that +were shy and very fugitive. Her senses swam; she thought she would +never forget how an Englishman's arms felt, iron barriers holding one +hard against a leaping heart. A shiver of ecstasy ran through her; she +whispered: "<i>Querido!</i> Dear one! Do not quite forget!"</p> + +<p>"Forget!" he said. "Oh, little unbeliever! Feel how I hold you: shall I +ever let you go?"</p> + +<p>She came back to earth; she was blushing and shaken. "Oh, loose me!" +she begged, and seemed to flutter in his arms. "How may I believe that +you could do the impossible?"</p> + +<p>"There is naught impossible that I have found," he said. "You shall +leave me for a space, since to that I pledged my word, but not for +long, my little love, not for long! Look for me before the year is out; +I shall surely come."</p> + +<p>A rich voice sounded close at hand. "Where are you, sir? They answer +the signal right enough."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet put the lady quickly behind him; the boatswain came to them, +peering through the darkness.</p> + +<p>What followed passed as a dream for Dominica. There was a furtive light +dipping and shining on the mainland; she escaped below decks, and saw +her baggage borne away, and heard the bustle of a boat being prepared. +Don Manuel sat ready, wrapped about in a fur-lined cloak, but shivering +always. "He hath compassed it," Don Manuel said in quiet satisfaction. +"He is a brave man."</p> + +<p>Master Dangerfield came to fetch them in a little while; he gave an arm +to Don Manuel, spoke words of cheer, but cast a regretful eye towards +my lady. They came up on deck and found Beauvallet by a rope-ladder. +Below, bobbing on the ink-black water, a boat waited, manned by the +boatswain and some of his men, and with the baggage stowed safely in it.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas came forward. "Don Manuel, have you strength to descend +yon ladder?"</p> + +<p>"I can essay, señor," Don Manuel said. "Bartolomeo, go before me." He +faced Beauvallet in the shaded lamplight. "Señor, this is farewell. You +will let me say——"</p> + +<p>"No need, señor. Let it be said anon. I shall see you safely ashore."</p> + +<p>"Yourself, señor? Nay, that is too much to ask of you."</p> + +<p>"Be at ease, ye did not ask it. It is my pleasure," Beauvallet said, +and put out a strong hand to help him down the ladder.</p> + +<p>Don Manuel went painfully down the side with Bartolomeo watchful +below him. Beauvallet turned to Dominica, and opened his arms. "Trust +yourself to me yet again, sweetheart," he said.</p> + +<p>Without a word she went to him and let him swing her up to his +shoulder. He went lightly down the side with her, let her slip to her +feet in the boat below, and held her still with one supporting hand. +She found a seat beside Maria, crouched in the stern, and nestled +beside her. Beauvallet left the ladder and gained the boat, stepped +past the two women to the tiller behind them, and called a low order +to his men. There was a casting off, long oars dipped into the heaving +water; silently the boat cleaved forward towards the land.</p> + +<p>A crescent moon gleamed suddenly through a rift in the clouds above; +Dominica looked round and saw Beauvallet behind her, holding the +tiller. He was looking frowningly ahead, but as she turned he glanced +down at her and smiled. She said suddenly on a sharp note of fear: "Ah, +if there should be soldiers! A trap!"</p> + +<p>His white teeth shone between the black of beard and mustachio. "Never +fear."</p> + +<p>"Foolhardy!" she whispered. "I would you had not come."</p> + +<p>"What, and send my men into a danger I dare not face?" he rallied her.</p> + +<p>She looked at him, so straight and handsome in the pale moonlight. "No, +that is not your way," she said. "I cry pardon."</p> + +<p>The clouds covered the moon's face again; Beauvallet was a dark shadow +against the night. "I have a sword, child. Fear not."</p> + +<p>"Rather, Reck Not," she said in a low voice.</p> + +<p>She heard the ripple of his gay laugh.</p> + +<p>Soon, too soon, the boat's keel grated on the beach. There were men +running down to meet them now, men who caught at the boat, and held +her, and questioned eagerly, in low, rough Spanish. Sir Nicholas picked +his way across the baggage, and between the rowers to the nose of the +boat, and sprang ashore, closely followed by his boatswain. There was +the quick give and take of question and answer, a sharp exclamation, a +subdued babel of voices in a long parley. Then Beauvallet came back to +the boat, with the sea washing about his ankles, and gave his hand to +Don Manuel. "All is well, señor; these worthy fellows will give you a +lodging for the night, and your man may ride into Santander to-morrow +to find a coach to bear you hence."</p> + +<p>A burly sailor lifted Don Manuel on to dry land; his daughter lay in +tenderer arms. She was carried up the beach, held closer still for a +moment. Beauvallet bent his head and kissed her. "Till I come again!" +he said, and set her on her feet. "Trust me!"</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The <i>Venture</i> was left in Plymouth Sound, under charge of Master +Culpepper, and her treasure safely stored. She was docked, and would +be clean careened before she could put to sea again. Beauvallet stayed +some three nights in Plymouth, where he found a sea-faring crony or +two, heard what news was abroad, and saw to the bestowal of his ship. +He took horse then, with Joshua Dimmock in attendance, and a hired man +following hard upon them with led sumpters, and made for Alreston, in +Hampshire, where he might reasonably expect to find his brother.</p> + +<p>My Lord Beauvallet had other dwellings beside this, but of all +this manor of Alreston saw him the most. There was a grim hold in +Cambridgeshire, built nearly two hundred years ago by the founder +of the house, Simon, First Baron Beauvallet. A left-handed scion of +the old house of Malvallet, Simon cleaved for himself a new name +and a new title. Under King Henry V he saw much fighting in France, +and when those wars were done, came riding back into Cambridgeshire +with a French bride, a countess in her own right, holding lands and +a stronghold in Normandy. You might read of this first Beauvallet's +mighty deeds in the dreamy chronicles of his close friend, Alan, Earl +of Montlice, who occupied the latter years of his life with the writing +of his reminiscences. It is a diffuse work, something poetical in tone, +but contains much of interest.</p> + +<p>Since the days of the Iron Baron the family fortunes had fluctuated. +The French County was lost to the English branch very early, for +Simon, finding himself continually at loggerheads with his first-born, +bestowed it upon his second son, Henry, who was thus the founder of the +present French house.</p> + +<p>Geoffrey, the second baron, survived the Wars of the Roses, but left +the barony considerably impoverished by his vacillations. His heir, +Henry, took to wife Margaret, heiress of Malvallet, by which wise +alliance the two families were made one. His successors all laid +schemes for the family's advancement, but the times were troublous, and +it was not always possible to steer a safe course through the varying +politics of the day. Thus in this year, 1586, although the house of +Beauvallet had by dint of careful marriages planted its roots in many +great houses, and become one of the wealthiest in the land, the present +holder of the title was still only a baron, as his ancestor had been +before him.</p> + +<p>This Seventh Baron, Gerard, a solid man, had built the new house +at Alreston, a noble mansion of red brick, with oak timberings. My +lady, a frail dame, complained of the cruel temper of the climate in +Cambridgeshire, and was urgent in her gentle way, to be gone from an +ancient castle full of draughts and damp and gloomy corners. My lord, +inheriting much of his great ancestor's rugged nature, had a fondness +for this mediæval hold, and saw in the use of oak for house-building +a sign of the decadence of the age. He was, so they said, a hard man, +with a will of iron, but there was a joint in his armour. My lady had +her way, and there arose in milder Hampshire, on lands that had come as +part of the dowry of Gerard's grandmother, a stately Tudor mansion, set +in fair gardens, surrounded by its stables, its farmsteads, and its +rolling acres of pasturage. It was seen that my lord for all his hardy +notions had pride in the magnificence of the building. He might speak +slightingly of an age of luxury, but he adorned his house with every +trapping of wealth, used the despised oak for his panelling, and had +all carved and painted to the admiration of his neighbours.</p> + +<p>Thither rode Nicholas, on a bright spring day, and came in sight of +the square gatehouse, after an absence of over a year. The gates stood +wide, and showed a broad avenue stretching ahead, with rolling lawns to +flank it, and the high gables of the manor beyond. Sir Nicholas reined +in, and sent a shout echoing through the archway. The gate-keeper +came out, no sooner saw who called than he hurried forward, beaming a +welcome. "Eh, but it could be none other! Master Nick!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet stretched down a hand in careless good nature. "Well, old +Samson? How does my brother?"</p> + +<p>"Well, master, well, and my lady too," Samson told him, and bent the +knee to kiss his hand. "Are you come home for aye at last, sir? The +place misses you!"</p> + +<p>There was a shrug of the shoulder and a shake of the head. "Nay, nay, +the place needs but my brother."</p> + +<p>"A just lord," Samson agreed. "But there is never a man on Beauvallet +land would not be glad to welcome Sir Nicholas home."</p> + +<p>"Oh, flatterer!" Beauvallet mocked. "What have I ever done for the +land?"</p> + +<p>"It is not that, master." Samson shook his head, and would have said +more.</p> + +<p>But Sir Nicholas laughed it aside, waved his hand, and rode on under +the arch.</p> + +<p>A flight of broad stone steps led up from the neat drive to the terrace +and the great doorway. There were clipped yews in tubs, and in the +stonework above the door the Beauvallet arms were set in a stone +shield. Leaded windows reared up slim and stately to either side, built +out in rounded bays, with scrolls beneath them of stonework set against +the warmer brick. The roof was tiled red, with tall chimney-stacks to +either end, and round attic windows set between the many gables. The +door stood open to let in the spring sunshine.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas swung himself lightly down from the saddle, tossed the +bridle to Joshua, and went bounding up the steps. Like a boy he set +his hollowed hands to form a trumpet for his mouth, and called: "Holà, +there! What, none to cry Nick welcome?"</p> + +<p>In a moment heads peeped from upper windows. There was a stir amongst +the serving maids, a whisper of: "Sir Nicholas is home!" and much +preening of stuff gowns and patting of prim coifs. Sir Nicholas might +be counted on to give a hearty buss to the prettiest, ignoring my +lady's murmured protests.</p> + +<p>Portly Master Dawson, steward for many years, heard the shout in his +buttery, and made haste to come out into the sunlight. A couple of +lackeys hurried at his heels, and Dame Margery, urgent to be the first +to greet her nursling. She pushed past Master Dawson as he reached the +door, dived under his arm without ceremony, a little wrinkled woman in +a close white cap. "My cosset!" cried Dame Margery. "My lamb! Is it my +babe indeed?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed and indeed!" Sir Nicholas said, laughing, and opened his arms +to her. He caught her up in a great hug while she fondled and scolded +all in one breath. He was a good-for-naught, a rough, sudden fellow +to snatch up an old woman thus! Eh, but he was brown! She dared swear +he was grown; but his cheek was thin: she misgave her he was in poor +health. Ah, he was a sad wastrel to be so long gone, and to come home +but to laugh at his poor nurse! She must pat him, stroke his hands, +feel the thickness of his short cloak. A fine cloth, by her faith! all +tricked out with points and tassels of gold! Oh, spendthrift! Take +heed, take heed! Could he not see my lord coming to greet him?</p> + +<p>My lord came sedately out from the house in a gown of camlet trimmed +with vair, with a close cap set upon his head, and a gold chain about +his neck. My lord wore a cathedral beard like a churchman. He was fair +where Nicholas was dark; his eyes were blue, but lacked the sparkle +that was in his brother's eyes. He was a tall man of imposing mien, had +a grave countenance and a stately gait. "Well, Nick!" he said, with +the glimmer of a smile. "My lady heard a shouting and commotion, and +straightway saith Nick must be home. How is it with you, lad?"</p> + +<p>The brothers embraced. "As you see me, Gerard. And you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, enough. A tertian fever troubled me in February, but it is +happily passed."</p> + +<p>"He must needs go into Cambridgeshire to that damp, unhealthy castle," +sighed a mournful voice. "I knew what would come of it. I foretold an +ague from the start. Dear Nicholas, give you good den."</p> + +<p>Nicholas turned to greet my Lady Beauvallet, kissed her hand right +dutifully, and so came to her lips. "Do I see you well, sister?"</p> + +<p>"Nick!" She blushed faintly and shook her finger at him. "Ever the +same swift way! Nay, the hard winter—harder than any I remember, +was it not, my lord?—tried me sorely. At the New Year I had the +sweating-sickness. Then, at Candlemas, an ague seized me, and was like +to have carried me off, methought."</p> + +<p>"But the spring comes, and you grow strong with it," suggested Nicholas.</p> + +<p>She looked doubtful. "Indeed, Nicholas, I trust it may be found so, but +I have the frailest health, as you know."</p> + +<p>Gerard broke in upon this lamentation. "I see you bring home that +ruffler," he said, and nodded to where Joshua stood in parley with the +lackeys. "Have ye schooled him yet?"</p> + +<p>"Devil a bit, brother. Joshua! Here, rogue, come pay your duty to my +lord!" He put an arm round my lady's waist and swept her into the +house. "Have in with you, Kate. The snip of the wind is like to lay you +low of a second ague."</p> + +<p>My lady went with him protesting. "Nick, Nick, so hardy still? Not a +second ague, I assure you, but more like the seventh, for, indeed, no +sooner am I raised from one than another comes to strike me down. Come +into the hall, brother. There should be a fire there, and they will +bring wine for you. Or there is some March beer of two years tunning. +Dawson! Dawson, bring—oh, he is gone! Well, come in, Nicholas; you +will be chilled from your ride."</p> + +<p>They went through the screens to the Great Hall. This was a noble +apartment with the roof high over their heads crossed and re-crossed +with oaken timbers. Tall windows were set all round the walls at a +height above a man's head. Between them the walls were covered with +panels of linen-fold. A dais was set at one end, in the bay of the +front windows, with a long table upon it and benches around. A great +fireplace stood in one wall, with logs burning in it. Above the lofty +mantelpiece, supported by pilasters, my lord's quarterings hung. +Rushes, with rosemary strewed amongst them, covered the floor; there +was a settle on either side of the fireplace, and some carved and +panel-backed chairs ranged neatly along the wall.</p> + +<p>My lady sat down on one side of the fire, and since her monstrous +farthingale seemed to occupy most of the settle, Sir Nicholas went to +the other. "Yes, sit down, dear Nicholas," she said. "Dawson will be +here anon, and my lord too, I dare swear."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas loosed the cloak from about his shoulders and tossed it +aside. It fell over one of the chairs against the wall, and Margery, +peeping round a corner of the screens, frowned to see the fine thing +so rudely used. My lady caught sight of that puckered face and smiled +kindly. "Come you in, Margery. You will say it is a good day that sees +Sir Nicholas come riding home."</p> + +<p>"Good indeed, my lady." Margery dropped a curtsey. "But a feckless, +heedless boy! Ah, is there never one to school him?" She picked up the +cloak and folded it carefully. "Tut, the brave hat upon the floor! +Two feathers in it, i'faith!" She looked a fond reproof at such +extravagance. "Heed old Margery, my cosset, and get ye a wife!"</p> + +<p>"What need?" Sir Nicholas asked, and disposed his graceful limbs at +ease along the settle. "What need while I still have Margery to scold, +and a fair sister to shake her head at me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Nicholas, for shame!" my lady said. "I shake my head? Though, +indeed, ye often deserve that I should. Ah, my lord, in good time! Here +is your brother says we scold, poor Margery and I."</p> + +<p>My lord came to sit beside Nicholas on the settle. "Dawson is gone to +fetch the March beer for you, Nick. He is sure it is what you need." He +smiled. "It is a rare thing, faith, to see the house turned upside down +for a graceless rogue that heeds naught that concerns it."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas threw back his head, and laughed. "The old tale! I irk you +sorely, Gerard, alack!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay." My lord looked on him with some kindness. "So ye be come +home now to stay...."</p> + +<p>"Patience, Gerard, patience!" Nicholas said mischievously.</p> + +<p>Dawson came in preceding a lackey, bearing the famous beer upon a +salver. "Sir, at your pleasure!"</p> + +<p>"In good sooth!" Sir Nicholas stretched out a hand for the tankard. +"Give you my word I have yearned often for this. My lady, I drink to +your better health."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" sighed my lady, and shook her head.</p> + +<p>My lord took the second tankard. "You will wish to hear news of my Lady +Stanbury," he said. "I had a letter from her lord last Friday se'n +night, telling me she had been brought to bed of a fair son."</p> + +<p>"What, a son at last?" quoth Sir Nicholas, tossing off the rest of +his beer. "Marry, I lost count of poor Adela's daughters long since! +Dawson, another tankard, man, to drink my nephew's health!" He looked +at Gerard. "How doth my sister? Who stands sponsor?"</p> + +<p>"Well, very well. I am asked to stand, with my lady, and another. Ye +should journey into Worcester to visit them; Adela would be glad of it. +You will not have heard that our cousin Arnold is wedded to Groshawk's +second daughter? A fair match, no more than fair. The elder girl +favoured her mother too much for Arnold, so I heard."</p> + +<p>Talk ran awhile on family matters; my lady went away presently to see +to the preparation of the heir's chamber, and Nicholas must needs be +off to the stables to greet old servants, and inspect new horses. My +lord went with him, willingly enough.</p> + +<p>"There's a Barbary horse might suit you," said he. "Ye shall try his +paces. I bought him last Michaelmas, but he is scarce up to my weight, +I believe. He should please you: a fiery, impatient brute." He linked +arms with Nicholas, and made his brother curb his hasty steps to match +his own. "Gently, lad! What's your hurry?"</p> + +<p>"None. What hawks do you keep now? What sport?"</p> + +<p>"Fair, fair. I was out with my neighbour Selby last Thursday. I let +fly my tassel-gentle at a pheasant, discovered in a brake. A rare bird +that! I had her from Stanbury when he was here over Twelfth Night; ye +shall see her anon. Selby found a mallard, whistled off his falcon. +Down she came, twice missed, but recovered it at a long flight...."</p> + +<p>They talked of hawking, and of venery, and of the management of the +estate. When they came slowly back to the house the sun was sinking +behind it in a red glow. Master Dawson met them with a warning of +supper. Sir Nicholas' baggage had arrived, and was safely bestowed in +his chamber. Sir Nicholas went up the wide stairs two at a time, and +found Joshua laying out a doublet and hose of slashed mochado, with +netherstocks of carnation silk, and a clean stiff ruff.</p> + +<p>A great bed with a canopy of carved wood supported at all four corners +by pillars in the form of caryatides, stood out into the room. It had +hangings of worked damask, and a Venice-valance. A bow-fronted chest +of walnut inlaid with cherrywood stood at the foot of it; there was an +armoire in one corner, a second chest bearing upon it a basin and ewer +of pewter ware, painted cloths upon the walls, and a thrown-chair by +the window. Sir Nicholas flung himself down in this, and stretched his +legs out before him. "Off with my boots, Joshua. Where's the casket I +bade ye cherish?"</p> + +<p>"Safe, master; I will bring it on the instant." Joshua knelt, and +tugged at the muddied boots. "All goeth merrily at home, sir, as we +see. 'What now,' quoth Master Dawson—he grows somewhat fat on good +living, mark you—'What now, do ye stay in England, Master Dimmock?' +This is to pry into our affairs, master. I made him a short answer, +never fear me. 'It's not for me,' quoth I, 'to divulge what plans Sir +Nicholas hath in mind.' He stood abashed."</p> + +<p>"I warrant me!" Sir Nicholas said mockingly. "A rare, politic answer, +my Joshua. Pray, what are my plans?"</p> + +<p>Joshua arose with the second boot in his hand. "Nay, sir, ye have +not favoured me with them yet," he said with unabated cheerfulness. +"But it was not fit that I should say as much to that fat steward. A +swag-bellied, pompous ass, I make bold to say. Yet, master, and I do +not speak without reflection, it might suit us well to remain snug at +home now."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas stood up, his fingers busy with the untying of his points. +"Further, rogue, it might suit us better to be gone again just so soon +as the <i>Venture</i> is ready to put to sea."</p> + +<p>Joshua's face fell. "Is it so indeed, master?"</p> + +<p>The glancing blue eyes looked down at him a moment. "Rest you snug at +home. Do I constrain you? I am off on a wild adventure this time."</p> + +<p>"The more reason to take me along," said Joshua severely. "If you are +to be off again I shall certainly accompany you." He picked up the +doublet from the bed, and frowned a stern reproof. "This is to jest, +sir. I shall be at hand to keep a watch over our interests. I do not +say that I had not as lief be at home, but I shall without doubt go +where you go, for that is clearly my fate."</p> + +<p>"Like Ruth," said Sir Nicholas flippantly.</p> + +<p>In a little while he was descending the stairs again, very brave in +his doublet of the French cut, with the high wings to the shoulders, +and the embroidered sleeves. He had a fine leg, set off to advantage +in stockings of carnation silk, with rosettes to the garters below his +knees. The little neat ruff made no more than a stiff cup for his face; +my Lord Beauvallet, favouring a wider fashion, called it Italianate, +and looked severely.</p> + +<p>My lord and his lady were found in the winter-parlour, where supper +was spread upon a draw-table. Sir Nicholas came in upon them, splendid +in his rich trappings, and set a small casket before my lady. "Spain +pays toll to beauty, Kate," he said, and looked wickedly under his +lashes at Gerard's disapproving countenance.</p> + +<p>My lady knew very well what she might expect to find in the casket, +but chose to dissemble. "Why, Nicholas, what do you bring me?" she +wondered, raising her watchett-blue eyes to his face.</p> + +<p>"A poor gewgaw, no more. There is a length of China silk in my baggage +you might make into a gown, or some such thing."</p> + +<p>My lady had opened the casket, and clasped her hands in breathless +ecstasy. "Oh, Nick! Rubies!" she gasped, and almost reverently drew +forth a long chain set with the precious stones. She held it in her +hands, and looked doubtfully at Gerard. "See, my lord! Nicholas makes +me a noble present."</p> + +<p>"Ay," said my lord glumly. "Jewels filched from some Spanish hold."</p> + +<p>My lady sighed, and put the chain down. "Should I not wear it, dear +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Tush!" Nicholas said bracingly, and caught up the chain from the +table, and cast it about my lady's thin neck. "I've other such toys for +the Queen. I warrant you she will wear them. Heed him not."</p> + +<p>"I am sure," said my lady, plucking up courage, "that what the Queen's +Grace does not disdain to wear I need not."</p> + +<p>Gerard sat down in the high-backed chair at the head of the table. "You +will do as you please, madam," he said deeply.</p> + +<p>Supper was eaten in silence, as was customary, but when the green goose +had been taken away, and sweetmeats were on the table, and Hippocras +set before my lord, conversation began again. My lord dipped his +fingers in a gilt basin handed to him by a lackey liveried in blue, and +spoke more genially. "Well, Nick, ye say naught of your designs. Have +you come home to stay?"</p> + +<p>"Confess, brother, you are more at ease when I am abroad!" Nicholas +rallied him, and poured Hippocras into the delicate glass of Venetian +ware before him.</p> + +<p>Gerard permitted a smile to break his gravity. "Nay, acquit me, I do +not gainsay, though, ye are a mad, roystering lad."</p> + +<p>"Swashbuckler, ye were wont to call me."</p> + +<p>"Well." My lord smiled more broadly.</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I am sure he is sober enough now!" my lady said in a flutter. +"No hard words, I beg! Why he numbers some thirty-four—thirty-five +summers, surely?"</p> + +<p>"God 'a mercy, do I so?" Sir Nicholas said, startled. He lifted his +glass, and held it up to see the light through the wine in it. He +seemed to be pondering some quaint thought; my lord saw the corners of +his mouth lift a little.</p> + +<p>"Time to be done with all this ruffling on the high seas," my lord said.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet shot him a quick look; there was a hidden jest in his eyes. +He returned to the contemplation of his wine.</p> + +<p>My lady rose. "You will have much to say to one another," she said. "Ye +will find me in the gallery anon."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet went to hold the door for her. As she passed him she put out +a hand, and smiled vaguely. "Indeed, I hope you will listen to my lord, +Nick. We should be glad to have you at home."</p> + +<p>He carried her fingers to his lips, but would give her neither yea nor +nay. She went out, and he closed the door behind her.</p> + +<p>My lord pushed back his chair a little way from the table, sat more at +his ease, and poured another glass of wine. "Sit ye down, Nick, sit ye +down! Let me know your mind." He observed the secret jest still in his +brother's face, and knew a feeling of some slight alarm. There was no +knowing what folly Nick might be planning.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas pulled his chair round a little, sank into it, with one +leg thrown over the arm. His fingers closed round the stem of his +glass, twisting it this way and that. His other hand played gently with +his pomander.</p> + +<p>My lord nodded and smiled. "I see you still have that trick of swinging +your pomander. As I remember it never boded good. My memory serves, +eh?" He drank his wine, and set down the glass. "Thirty-five summers! +Ay, my lady is in the right of it. Thirty-five summers and still +roaming the world. Now to what purpose, Nick?"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, to bring rubies home for Kate," +he parried.</p> + +<p>"It's what I don't like. I'll not conceal it from you. It's very well +for such men as Hawkins or Drake, but I would remind you, Nick, that +you stand next to me in the succession. To make the Grand Tour is well +enough—though what good ye came by from it, God knoweth!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, brother," Sir Nicholas protested. "I learned to foin with the +point from the great Carranza himself in Toledo! Grant me that."</p> + +<p>My lord was roused to an expression of strenuous disapproval. "A pretty +ambition, God wot! All this pricking and poking with a barbarous rapier +is an invention of the devil himself. An honest sword-and-buckler was +good enough for our fathers."</p> + +<p>"But not good enough for us," said Beauvallet. "Yet I will engage +to worst you in an encounter with your sword-and-buckler, Gerard. I +believe I have not altogether lost the trick of it. But for delicacy, +for finesse, let me have the rapier!" He made an imaginary pass in the +air. "What, you say I learned no good upon my travels? Did I not sit at +the feet of Carranza, and after find out Marozzo himself in Venice? Ay, +he was old, I grant you, but he had some tricks still to show. Alack, +ye have no Italian! Ye should else read his <i>Opera Nova</i>, in the which +book he carefully explains the uses of the <i>falso</i> and the <i>dritto +filo</i>. No good, ye say? Produce me the man who can worst me with the +rapier and the dagger!"</p> + +<p>My lord maintained an unyielding front. "Do you count such foreign +tricks a gain? What else have you to show for these years of junketting +abroad?"</p> + +<p>"A rare Toledo blade, brother," returned Nicholas, unabashed. "A blade +tempered in the waters of the Tagus, and inscribed with the name of +Andrea Ferrara between eight crowns. Yet another such blade, from the +hand of Sahagom. What, more? Why, then, a suit of Jacobi armour you +yourself did not despise; an acquaintance with our cousins in France; +an intimate knowledge of the French, the Spanish, and the Italian +tongues—which I think ye lack——"</p> + +<p>"The English of my forefathers sufficeth me," said my lord grimly.</p> + +<p>"You've no ambition, Gerard," mourned Beauvallet.</p> + +<p>"I've no vagrant spirit," said my lord tartly. "Will you never be +still? I pass over the Grand Tour; I may pass over even that mad +emprise ye set forth on with Drake——"</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks!" Beauvallet's eyes were alight.</p> + +<p>"I grant you it was worth the doing," said my lord grudgingly. "Ay, a +rare feat, and all honour to you for compassing it."</p> + +<p>"Give honour to Drake, where it is due," said Beauvallet, and lifted +his glass. "We drink his health! To Drake, the master-mariner!"</p> + +<p>My lord drank the toast, but without enthusiasm. "It's very well, but +why ye must needs cleave so fast to this same Sir Francis passeth my +comprehension."</p> + +<p>"Does it so?" Beauvallet said. "But then, brother, you have not sailed +the world round in his company, nor learned seacraft of him, nor faced +sack, battle and wreck at his side."</p> + +<p>"Ye have imbibed unfit notions from him. A voyage round the world! Very +well, very well, a feat indeed, and duly we honoured it. Ye brought +home a store of riches, moreover, enough for any man. Then was the time +to call an end to this wandering fever. But did ye? Nay, ye built your +fine ship, and must needs be off again. A madness! A most damnable +folly, Nick, give me leave to say!"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas bowed his raven head in mock contrition. "I cry your +pardon, good my lord!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, and sit there as graceless as the day ye were first breeched," +said my lord, a hint of humour in his deep voice. "Nay, Nick, I speak +advisedly. Ye have laid up a goodly treasure, as I know who husband it +for you. Treasure come by in a way I like not, but let it go. There is +the manor of Basing waiting for you any time you choose to go to it. My +lady brings me no heirs, nor is not like to. I look to you. What comes +to our house if you be slain or drowned? Get a wife, and be done with +this roystering!"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas lifted his pomander to his nose. "Give me joy, brother, I +am about to get me a wife."</p> + +<p>My lord was momentarily surprised, but he hid it quickly. "In good +time. My lady hath her eye upon a likely maid for you. We had thought +on the Lady Alison, daughter of Lord Gervais of Alfreston, but there +are others beside. Ye might go into Worcestershire for a bride. My +sister writes sundry names might please you."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet held up his hand. His eyes were fairly brimful now with that +secret jest. "Hold, hold, Gerard! I am going to look in Spain for my +bride."</p> + +<p>My lord set down his glass with a snap that came near to breaking it. +He stared under his projecting brows. "What's this? What new folly?"</p> + +<p>"None, I swear. My choice is made. Give me joy, brother! I shall bring +home a bride before a year is out."</p> + +<p>My lord sat back in his chair. "Expound me this riddle," he said +quietly. "Ye jest, I think."</p> + +<p>"Never less. I give you a new toast." He came to his feet and lifted +his glass on high. "Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva!"</p> + +<p>My lord did not drink it. "A Spanish Papist?" he asked. "Do you ask me +to believe that?"</p> + +<p>"No Papist, but a dear heretic." Sir Nicholas leaned on the +goffered-leather back of his chair. With a sinking heart my lord noted +the scarce curbed energy of him, the exultant look in his face. He +feared the worst. The worst came. "I took her and her father aboard the +<i>Venture</i> after the sack of the <i>Santa Maria</i>. More of that anon. Since +she would have it so, and since to that I pledged my word, I set them +ashore on the northern coast of Spain. But I swore I would ride into +Spain to seek her, and so I shall do, brother, never doubt me."</p> + +<p>My lord sat still in his chair, looking up at Nicholas. His face was +set. "Nick, if this be indeed no jest——"</p> + +<p>"God's my pity, wherefor should I jest?" Beauvallet cried impatiently. +"I am in earnest, in deadly earnest!"</p> + +<p>"Then ye are mad indeed!" my lord said, and struck the table with his +open palm. "Mad, and should be clapped up! Fool, do ye think to ride +scatheless into Spain in these days?"</p> + +<p>The smile flashed out; Sir Nicholas nodded. "Ay, I think to come out of +Spain with a whole skin."</p> + +<p>My lord got up out of his chair. "Nick, Nick, what devil rides you? We +have no ambassador in Spain to-day. How should you fare?"</p> + +<p>"Alone. The stars always fight for me, Gerard. Will you take a wager +that I do not come home with a bride on my arm?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, have done with laughing! To what a pass has this senseless love +of danger led you? Lad, heed what I say! If ye go into Spain ye will +never come out again. The Inquisition will have you in its damnable +toils, and there is no power under the sun can save you then!"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas snapped finger and thumb in the air. "A fig for the +Inquisition! Gerard, my careful Gerard, I give you <i>Reck Not</i>!"</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>To my Lady Beauvallet, discovered in the Long Gallery, Gerard exposed +the folly of his brother. He sat him down heavily in a chair covered +with gilded leather, and spoke bitterly and long. My lady listened +in amazement and distress, but Nicholas wandered down the gallery +inspecting such new pieces as my lord had lately acquired, and gave no +ear to the discourse.</p> + +<p>"If you have more influence than I have, Kate, I pray you use it now," +Gerard said. "I grant you he lives but to plague me, but I should +desire him to continue to live."</p> + +<p>Nicholas raised his head from a close scrutiny of a piece from one of +the cabinets. "Whence had you this Majolica ware, Gerard?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"But Nicholas cannot mean it!" my lady said hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Prevail upon him to admit as much, madam, and call me your debtor. +Prevail on him only to pay heed to sager counsel!"</p> + +<p>She turned her head, and saw Nicholas at the other end of the gallery, +intent upon Majolica ware. "Good my brother! Nicholas! Will you not +tell me what you have in mind?"</p> + +<p>Nicholas put back the piece, and came sauntering towards her. "Pottery, +Kate, but Gerard denies me an answer. What's your will?"</p> + +<p>"God sain you, Nick, can you not be serious even now?" my lord said +sharply.</p> + +<p>Nicholas stood before them, swinging gently on his toes, with his hands +tucked into his belt. A smile lilted at the corners of his mouth. +"Here's heat! I've said my say, Gerard, and mighty ill you liked it. +What would you have now?"</p> + +<p>"Nick, put by this mad humour, and give me a sober answer! Tell me ye +did but jest."</p> + +<p>"Soberly I tell you, brother, I did not jest."</p> + +<p>My lord's hand clenched on the arm of his chair, and he spoke with some +force. "It's to throw away your life for a whim. Are you tired of it? +Does the thought of death please you so well? Or are ye besotted with +success and now think even to succeed in this?"</p> + +<p>Nicholas nodded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but Nicholas, this is not like you!" fluttered my lady.</p> + +<p>"It's very like him, madam!" Gerard retorted. "Any wild scheme is meat +for Nick! I might have known what would come of it! But to think to +snatch a wench out of Spain, to bring her home, a foreigner and an +enemy, to be my lady one day passes all bounds!"</p> + +<p>"Does it so indeed?" Nicholas interposed swiftly. "You're at fault, +Gerard. I do but follow the example of the first baron, who also +brought home a foreigner and an enemy to be his bride."</p> + +<p>My lord glared; my lady stirred restlessly, and hurried into speech. +"Of what like is she, Nicholas?"</p> + +<p>"Tush!" said my lord awfully.</p> + +<p>Nicholas looked down at my lady; a gentler light was in his eyes. +"Kate, she is a little lady all fire and spirit, with great brown eyes, +and two dimples set on either side the sweetest mouth in Christendom."</p> + +<p>"But a Spaniard!" my lady protested.</p> + +<p>"Trust me to amend that," he said lightly.</p> + +<p>She liked the savour of romance, smiled, and sighed. My lord brought +her down to earth again very speedily. "What boots it to ask of what +like she may be? Ye will never see her. Nor will ye see Nick again if +he goes on this mad quest. That is certain."</p> + +<p>Nicholas laughed out. "Marry, only one thing is certain, Gerard, and +that is that ye will never be rid of me. I always come back to be your +bane."</p> + +<p>"Lad, you know well I've no wish to be rid of you. Can I not prevail +with you? For the sake of the house?"</p> + +<p>Nicholas held up his hand, and showed the lady's thumb-ring upon his +little finger. "See my lady's token. I swore on it to reach to her. Are +you answered?"</p> + +<p>My lord made a gesture of despair. "I see there is once more to be no +ho with you. When do you look to go?"</p> + +<p>"Some three months hence," Nicholas answered. "The <i>Venture</i> lies in +dock, and will take some time refitting. I must to London within the +week to pay my duty to the Queen. I have appointed young Dangerfield to +meet me there. I might go thence into Worcestershire to see how Adela +does. You will see me home again in a month, never doubt it."</p> + +<p>He left Alreston two days later upon the Barbary horse from my lord's +stables, with Joshua Dimmock riding sedately behind him, and travelled +'cross country at his leisure until the post road was reached.</p> + +<p>"Never at quiet!" Joshua remarked to the heavens. "Court drowning at +sea, court foundering in mire upon land: it's all one."</p> + +<p>"Peace, froth!" Beauvallet said, and made his horse curvet on the green.</p> + +<p>They came within sight of the city late one evening as the gates were +closing. "What, the good-year!" Joshua cried, roused to wrath. "Shut +Beauvallet out, is it? Now see how I will use these churlish Londoners!"</p> + +<p>"No swashbuckling here, crack-hemp; we rest at the Tabard."</p> + +<p>The great inn showed welcoming lights, and placed her best at +Beauvallet's disposal. He stayed only one night, and was gone in the +morning over London Bridge to the Devil Tavern in East Chepe, where he +had reason to think he might find Sir Francis Drake.</p> + +<p>The host, who knew him well, accorded him a deferential welcome, and +bustled about to prepare a chamber for his honour. Sir Francis lay at +the inn indeed, but was gone forth that morning, mine host knew not +where. But there was a dinner bespoke for eleven o'clock, and Master +Hawkins would be there—nay, not Master John, but his brother—and Sir +William Cavendish, so mine host believed, with some others.</p> + +<p>"Lay a place for me, Wadloe," Sir Nicholas said, and went out in search +of Sir Francis, or any other friend who might chance to be abroad.</p> + +<p>Paul's Walk was the likeliest place to find Sir Francis; he would be +sure to go there to learn what news might be current. Sir Nicholas +strode off westwards through the crowded streets, came in good time to +the great cathedral, and ran with the clank of spurred heels up the +steps.</p> + +<p>Merchants and moneychangers no longer congregated in the church, as +they had done only twenty years ago, but Paul's Walk was still the +meeting ground for every court gallant who wished to show himself +abroad. If a man desired to see a friend, or hear the latest news, to +Paul's Walk he must go, where he would be bound to meet, sooner or +later, most of the notables of town.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet came up with a score of young gallants, exchanging Court +gossip. His glance swept over these; he clove a way through them, and +looked keenly round. Over the heads of two foppish gentlemen who eyed +him with disfavour, he saw a bluff, square-set man, with a fierce +golden beard, and long grey eyes set slightly slanting in a broad face. +This man stood with feet planted wide, and arms akimbo, talking to an +elderly gentleman in a long cloak. He wore a peascod doublet, hugely +bombasted, and a jewel in one ear.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas pushed through the crowd, and raised his hand in greeting. +The square man saw; his narrow eyes opened wider; he waved, and came +to meet Beauvallet through the press. "What, my Nick!" he rumbled. His +voice had some strength, as if he were accustomed to make himself heard +above wind and cannon-shot. "Why, my bully!" He grasped Beauvallet's +hand, and clapped him on the shoulder. "Whence do ye spring? God's +light, I am glad to see you, lad!"</p> + +<p>Some heads were turned. A gentleman pushed forward, +saying:—"Beauvallet, as I live! Save you, Nicholas!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet greeted this friend, and others who drew near. With Drake's +hand on his shoulder he stood bandying idle talk some little while, +answering eager questions. But soon Drake bore him off, and they walked +back together towards the Devil Tavern.</p> + +<p>"What news?" Drake said. "I had word of you in the Main, ruffling +still. What chance?"</p> + +<p>"Good," Sir Nicholas answered, and recounted briefly some of his +adventures.</p> + +<p>Drake nodded. "No mishaps?"</p> + +<p>"Some few deaths, no more. Perinat came out from Santiago to teach me a +lesson." He chuckled, and flung out a hand on which a single ruby ring +glowed. "Oho! I took that from Perinat for dear remembrance's sake."</p> + +<p>Drake laughed, and pressed his arm. "Proud bantam! What else?"</p> + +<p>"A galleon bound for Vigo laden with silks and spices, and some gold. +More of that anon. Tell your tale."</p> + +<p>Drake had Virginian news, being but just returned from the little +colony. He had brought back the colonists, and had much to tell. Talk +ran freely, and footsteps lagged. It was after eleven when they reached +the Devil, and in an upper room were gathered some half a dozen guests +awaiting their host.</p> + +<p>Drake rolled in with an arm flung across Beauvallet's shoulders. "Cry +you pardon!" he said. "Look what I bring!"</p> + +<p>There was some little stir, a cry of "Mad Nicholas, by God!" and a +babel of welcome.</p> + +<p>There was Frobisher, ready with a quiet greeting; Master William +Hawkins, solid, frieze-clad man; young Richard, his nephew, standing +beside Cavendish, a courtier among the sea-dogs; Master John Davys, +rugged man, and a scattering of others, most of them known to Sir +Nicholas. The rafters rang soon with wild tales tossed to and fro, +laughter, and the clink of tankards. Drake sat fatherly at the head +of his table and had Sir Nicholas upon his right hand, Frobisher on +his left. Frobisher bent his brows at Beauvallet, and said: "I heard +of your coming; there were some men of yours met some of mine at the +Gallant Howard. Fine doings! I am avised you sail with women aboard. +How now, Beauvallet?"</p> + +<p>Drake cocked a wise eyebrow in Beauvallet's direction; young Cavendish +looked as though he would like to hear more, yet hardly liked to raise +his voice in this august gathering.</p> + +<p>"True enough," Sir Nicholas said lightly.</p> + +<p>"Rare work for a sailor," Frobisher said ironically. "A new cantrip, I +doubt?"</p> + +<p>"You're jealous, Martin," Drake cut in with a deep laugh. "What's the +reason, Nick?"</p> + +<p>"Simple enough," Beauvallet said, and told it, very briefly.</p> + +<p>Drake dipped a sop in his wine, and looked sideways a moment. Frobisher +said grimly:—"Beauvallet looks for romance upon the high seas, and +makes his fine gesture. I would not sail with you, Beauvallet, for a +thousand pound."</p> + +<p>"No stomach for it, Frobisher?" Sir Nicholas said sweetly.</p> + +<p>"None, beshrew me. What fresh devilment this voyage?"</p> + +<p>"Some fine prizes," Drake said. "And a ring from Perinat—for +remembrance's sake, Nick, eh?"</p> + +<p>"I am a plain man," Frobisher remarked. "Too plain for such doings. +Drake and you, Drake and you!" He shook his head over them.</p> + +<p>Master Davys let a sudden laugh at this, and began at once to speak of +a mooted expedition in search of the North-West passage he so fervently +believed in. "Ay, you're a mad runagate, Nick, but there's a place for +you with me if you care to venture forth."</p> + +<p>At that there broke out a general discussion, some ribaldry, and a +gentle twitting of Master Davys' earnestness.</p> + +<p>Cavendish, listening bright-eyed to all this discourse, ventured a word +here and there, and presently spoke of his own plans. He had three +ships fitting out for a West Indian expedition, and was agog to follow +brave examples set him. Sir Nicholas wished him God-speed, and drank +success to his venture. He found the grave, considering grey eyes of +young Richard Hawkins upon him. He threw him a gay word, and young +Richard blushed, and laughed.</p> + +<p>"This babe sails with you, Drake?" Sir Nicholas said. "Well-a-day! I +left him scarce out of his swaddling-bands!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," Drake said. "All alike, these Hawkins—born to the sea. Did +you have speech with old Master Hawkins at Plymouth?"</p> + +<p>"Long speech, over a tankard of rare beer. I hear the great John grows +greater still, Richard."</p> + +<p>"My father talks of war with Spain," Richard said. "He says Walsingham +looks keenly for it."</p> + +<p>"A cup to the happy day!" Beauvallet said.</p> + +<p>Frobisher struck in to inquire of Beauvallet's plans; Master Davys, +aroused from a dish of eels, struck the table with his clenched fist, +and loudly bade Beauvallet sail with him to the North-West passage.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet turned it off with a laugh, and gave Frobisher an evasive +answer. Drake looked sideways again.</p> + +<p>But it was not until much later, when these two sat alone in the empty +room, over a fire of sea-coal, that Drake put his question. Then he +puffed at his long pipe, and stretched his massive legs out before him, +and looked up at Beauvallet out of his narrow, all-seeing eyes. "What +devilment, Nick? Let me have it."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet brought his quick gaze up from the red heart of the fire, +and looked challengingly. "Why must I needs have devilment in mind?"</p> + +<p>Drake pointed the stem of his pipe. "I know you, Nick, d'ye see? You've +not given me the full sum of it, but Martin jumped your fine secret for +you."</p> + +<p>So he had it then, in a few graphic words. It made his jaw drop a +little, but it made him twinkle too. "Pretty, very pretty!" he said. +"But what now?"</p> + +<p>"I shall go to Spain to fetch her," answered Sir Nicholas, in much the +same tone as he would have said he would go to Westminster.</p> + +<p>At that Drake let out a mighty echoing laugh. "God amend all!" He +sobered suddenly, and leaning forward took Beauvallet's arm in a strong +hold. "Look you. Nick, ha' done. Art too good a man to be lost."</p> + +<p>The gleaming blue eyes met those long grey ones for an instant. "Do you +think I shall be lost then?"</p> + +<p>Drake twisted his beard upwards, and chewed the end of it. "Well, +you're human." His shoulders began to shake again. "Ho, pull me +Philip's long nose, Nick, if ye see his Satanic Majesty! You would +come safe out of hell, I dare swear. But how to come into Spain? Your +smuggling port?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I had thought of it, but it's to court exposure. I must have +papers to show at need. The plague is on it we have no ambassador in +Madrid to-day."</p> + +<p>"English papers would never serve," Drake said. "You're frustrated at +the very outset. Go to, put the folly aside."</p> + +<p>"Not I, by God! I shall try my fortune with my French kinsmen."</p> + +<p>"God's Death, have you any?"</p> + +<p>"A-many. One in particular would be glad to serve me for old times +sake, I believe. The Marquis de Belrémy, with whom I travelled many +leagues on the Continent, years ago. Ay, and we saw some scrapes +together, God wot!" He laughed softly, remembering. "If he can put me +in the way to get French papers, well. If not—I shall still find a +way."</p> + +<p>Drake puffed in silence for a moment. "And a license to travel over +seas, Master Madman. Letters of Marque won't serve for this emprise. +It's in my mind the Queen may have other plans for you than to lose you +in a hare-brained venture to Spain."</p> + +<p>"Trust me to get a license. If the Queen will not, think you Walsingham +would be so nice?"</p> + +<p>Drake pulled a grimace. "Ay, marry, we know he'd be glad enough to send +a spy into Spain. Beshrew your heart, Nick, it's madness! Do you hold +your life of so mean account?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, but it's charmed. Yourself said so, Drake. Where lies the Court?"</p> + +<p>"At Westminster."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm for Westminster to-morrow," said Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>He came to the palace in the forenoon of the next day, very bravely +tricked out in a slashed doublet, scented with musk, and his beard +fresh trimmed. He had a cloak of the Burgundian cut aswirl from his +shoulders, and caught up carelessly over one arm. It was not difficult +to gain access to the palace, especially for Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, +who was known to be a favourite with the Queen's Grace. She had always +a soft corner in her heart for a handsome dare-devil.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas reached, without difficulty, one of the Long Galleries to +which he had been directed. Some of the Queen's ladies were gathered +here, and many of the court gallants. He learned that the Queen was +closeted with the French Ambassador, Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir +James Crofts in attendance. This he had from the Vice-Chancellor, Sir +Christopher Hatton, strutting in the gallery. Hatton gave him a cool, +polite greeting, and two fingers to do what he willed with. Beauvallet +let them fall soon enough, and fell into talk with the elegant and +grave Raleigh, also waiting for her Grace to come into the gallery. Sir +Christopher rolled a fiery eye, and seemed to withdraw the hem of his +garment from Raleigh's vicinity. At that Sir Nicholas grinned openly. +Sir Christopher's jealousies seemed to him absurd.</p> + +<p>He had to wait perhaps half an hour, but he employed his time +pleasantly enough, and very soon drew a shocked titter from one of +the Maids of Honour, who rated him for a bold, saucy fellow. This he +certainly was.</p> + +<p>There came a stir at the far end of the gallery; a curtain was held +back, and four people came slowly into the gallery. First of these +was the Queen, a thin lady of no more than middle-height, but mounted +on very high heels. A huge ruff, spangled with gems, rose behind +her head, which was of fiery colour, much crimped and curled, and +elaborately dressed with jewelled combs, and the like. Still more +monstrous loomed her farthingale, and her sleeves were puffed out +from her arms, and sewn over with jewels. She was dazzling to behold, +arrayed in the richest stuffs, glinting with precious stones. She drew +all eyes, but she would still have done so had she been dressed in the +simplest fustian. Her face might have been a mask for the paint that +covered it, but her eyes were very much alive: strange, dark eyes, not +large, but very bright, and oddly piercing.</p> + +<p>A little behind her, his hand upon the curtain, De Mauvissière bent +his stately head to listen deferentially to some word she had flung at +him over her shoulder. Behind him Sir Francis Walsingham was folding +a scrap of paper, which anon he handed to Crofts, frowning in the +background. Sir Francis' unfathomable, rather sad eyes, seemed to +embrace everyone in the gallery. They rested thoughtfully on Beauvallet +for a moment, but he made no sign.</p> + +<p>De Mauvissière bent to kiss the Queen's hand. She was tapping her foot, +and her eyes snapped dangerously. Her ladies, being familiar with the +signs, knew some misgivings.</p> + +<p>De Mauvissière went out backwards, bowing; the Queen nodded, and still +tapped with one foot. She was out of temper, flashed an angry glance at +her two ministers, and hunched a pettish shoulder.</p> + +<p>Walsingham crooked a long finger. His royal mistress must be diverted: +not Hatton, not Raleigh, whom she might see every day, would serve. Sir +Nicholas Beauvallet was come in a good hour.</p> + +<p>"God's Death!" swore her Grace, "It seems I am right well entreated!"</p> + +<p>There was a quick step; a gentleman was on his knee before her, and +dared to look up, twinkling, into her face.</p> + +<p>"God's Death!" swore her Grace again, hugely delighted. "Beauvallet!"</p> + +<p>Well, he had her hand to kiss, got a rap over the knuckles from her +fan, and was bidden rise up. The storm had passed over; her Grace was +happily diverted. Walsingham might hide a quiet smile in his beard; Sir +James Crofts could banish his worried frown.</p> + +<p>"Ha, rogue!" said her Grace, showing teeth a little discoloured in a +smile of great good-humour. "So you return again!"</p> + +<p>"As a needle to the magnet, madam," Sir Nicholas said promptly.</p> + +<p>She leaned on his arm, and took a few steps with him down the gallery. +"What news do ye bring me of my good cousin of Spain?"</p> + +<p>"Alack, madam, to my sure knowledge he hath lost three good ships: a +carrack, and two tall galleons."</p> + +<p>Her bright eyes looked sidelong at him. "So! So! To whom fell they a +prey?"</p> + +<p>"To a rogue, madam. One named Beauvallet."</p> + +<p>She burst out laughing. "I swear I love thee well, my merry ruffler!" +She beckoned up Walsingham, and gave him the news. "What must we do +with him, Sir Francis?" she demanded. "Ask of me, my rogue, and ye +shall have." She awaited his answer without misgiving for well she +knew that he was in need of naught, but was come instead to enrich her +coffers.</p> + +<p>"Two boons, madam, I crave on my knees."</p> + +<p>"God's Son! This is churlish-sounding, by my faith! Name 'em then."</p> + +<p>"The first is that your Grace will accept of a New Year's gift I am +come so tardily to offer—a trifle of rubies, no more. The second is +that your Grace will give me leave to travel into France for a space."</p> + +<p>That did not please her so well. She frowned over it, and would know +more. "I vow I'll give you a place about the Court," she said.</p> + +<p>It was his turn to frown. Your true courtier would have smiled, and +murmured his eternal devotion. This Mad Nicholas must needs twitch his +black brows together, and give a quick unmannerly shake of his head.</p> + +<p>"By God, you're a saucy knave!" her Grace said stridently. But she +sounded more amused than angered. "What's this? You'll none?"</p> + +<p>"Give me leave to travel awhile, madam," begged Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"I'm minded to box your ears, sirrah!" said her Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh, madam, forgive a tongue unused to speak softly! I had rather serve +you with the strong arm abroad than lie idle at your Court."</p> + +<p>"Well! well! That's prettily spoken, eh, Walsingham? But I don't need +your strong arm in France. Nay, I grant no licence to you. Be plain +with me, sirrah!" She saw his blue eyes dancing, and struck him lightly +on the arm with her fan. "Ha, you laugh? God's Death, you are a daring +rogue! Let me hear it. Speak, Beauvallet: the Queen listens."</p> + +<p>"Madam, I'll not deceive you." Beauvallet dropped to his knee. "Give +me leave to go into Spain awhile."</p> + +<p>This startling request fell into an amazed silence. Then her Grace +burst out again into her loud laugh, and those at the far end of the +gallery envied Mad Nicholas who could so amuse the Queen. "A jest! An +idle jest!" the Queen rapped out. But her piercing gaze was intent upon +him. "Wherefor, then?"</p> + +<p>"Madam, to perform a vow. Grant me so small a boon."</p> + +<p>"Grant you leave to throw away your life? What shall that profit me? Do +you hear this, Walsingham? Is the man mad in good sooth, think you?"</p> + +<p>Walsingham was stroking his beard. He too watched Sir Nicholas, but +there was no reading what was in his mind. "Sir Nicholas might haply +bring news out of Spain," he said slowly.</p> + +<p>The Queen turned an impatient shoulder. "Oh, get some other to do your +spies' work, sir! Well, and if I grant this boon, Sir Nicholas? What +then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, madam, only tell me what you would have me bring you out of +Spain?"</p> + +<p>Maybe the swift rejoinder pleased her; maybe she was curious to know +what he would do. She said gaily:—"Marry, the best that Spain holds, +sir. Mind you that!"</p> + +<p>Then Walsingham spoke in his soft, cold voice, leading the talk away +from this request. Beauvallet was content to have it so. The Queen gave +neither yea nor nay, but Sir Francis Walsingham would certainly give +a licence to Sir Nicholas Beauvallet for the good intelligence he saw +might come of it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>It was over three months later that Sir Nicholas Beauvallet went riding +southwards from Paris towards the Spanish border. There had been +some necessary delay at home: treasure to be bestowed at the Queen's +pleasure, and his own affairs to look to. He had also to visit his +sister in Worcestershire, and she would not soon let him go. He made +a merry month of it there, but told Adela nothing of his plans, and +trifled shamelessly with the ladies she brought forward to tempt him +into matrimony.</p> + +<p>The licence to travel was obtained from Walsingham easily enough. +Beauvallet was closeted with this enigmatic man for a full hour, and +protested afterwards that the Secretary made him shiver. But it is +believed that they were much of a mind in that both would welcome war +with Spain.</p> + +<p>With Joshua Dimmock, and a fair stock of money against his needs Sir +Nicholas came at last to Paris, and inquired for his distant kinsman, +Eustache de Beauvallet, Marquis de Belrémy. This nobleman, whom +Nicholas had not met since certain riotous days in Italy, when both +were in the early twenties, was not to be found at his town house. His +servants reported him to be at Belrémy, in Normandy, but Beauvallet +heard other news that placed the Marquis further south, on a visit +to a friend. There was nothing to be gained from seeking the elusive +Marquis through France; Beauvallet swore genially at the delay, and +sat him down to await his kinsman's return. He did not visit either +the English ambassador, or the Court of Henri III. For the one, he +preferred his presence in France to be unknown; for the other, the +fopperies of the French Court were not at all to his taste. He found +the means to amuse himself outside the Court, and passed the time very +pleasantly.</p> + +<p>At the end of a month the Marquis returned to Paris, and hearing of +Beauvallet's visit, straightway kicked his major-domo for allowing his +so dear kinsman to lodge otherwhere than in his house, and set forth at +once in a horse-litter to find Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet had a comfortable lodging near the Seine. It suited him +very well, but Joshua muttered darkly, and saw a Catholic murderer in +every convivial guest who came there. Saint Bartholomew's Day was fresh +enough yet in a plain Englishman's mind, said he.</p> + +<p>The Marquis, a wiry, resplendent personage, no more than a year older +than Beauvallet, came tempestuously into his room, and clasped his +kinsman in an ecstatic embrace with many suitable exclamations and +reproaches. It was long before Beauvallet could come to his business, +for the Marquis had much to say, and much to ask, and many mad memories +to recall. But at length the reason for this visit was asked, and then +they came to grips. When the Marquis heard that Sir Nicholas wanted +a French pass into Spain he at first threw up hands of despair, and +cried "Impossible!" At the end of half an hour he said:—"Well, well, +perhaps! But it is madness, and it will be a forgery, and you are +a good-for-naught to ask it of me!" Within the week he brought the +pass, and said only "Aha!" when Beauvallet asked how he had managed +to procure it. It gave leave for a M. Gaston de Beauvallet to travel +abroad. Beauvallet learned that this Gaston was a cousin of the +Marquis, and chuckled.</p> + +<p>"But look you, my friend!" the Marquis cautioned him. "Do not stumble +upon our Ambassador, for he knows Gaston well, and us all. I caution +you, be wary! Ah, but to travel into Spain at all! And with that name! +Madness! Unutterable folly!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Basta, basta!</i>" said Sir Nicholas, and frowned upon the pass.</p> + +<p>Now as he rode south it was in his mind that this pass, though it would +safely carry him across the Frontier was likely to lead him to exposure +at Madrid. He rode in silence, pondering it rather ruefully, but +presently he twitched his shoulders as though to cast off these cares, +and spurred his horse to a gallop. Joshua, following at a soberer pace +with a led sumpter, watched his master disappear down the road in a +cloud of dust, and shook his head. "Our last venture," said Joshua, and +kicked his horse to a brisker pace. "A plague on all women! Come up, +jade!"</p> + +<p>They made no great haste on the journey, for Sir Nicholas was loth to +part with the horse he had bought in Paris. It bore him nobly, and he +cherished it well. They went south by degrees, resting at the inns +along the post road, and came at last to a lonely tavern within half a +day's ride of the Frontier.</p> + +<p>It lay in a squalid village, and was obviously unfrequented by +travellers. The last great inn they had passed housed a sick man, whom +Joshua was quick to nose out. He got wind of a pestilent fever, and was +urgent with his master not to remain. The afternoon was young yet, and +the sun warm. Beauvallet consented to ride on.</p> + +<p>So they came at dusk to this rude inn, lying a little way off the post +road. None came forth to welcome them, so Joshua went to kick the door, +and raised a shout. Mine host came out, surly-seeming, but when he saw +so richly caparisoned a gentleman he lost his scowl, and bowed to the +ground. There was a room for the gentleman to be sure, if monseigneur +would condescend to this poor abode.</p> + +<p>"I condescend," said Sir Nicholas. "Have you a truckle-bed, my man? +Then set it up in my chamber for my servant." He swung himself down +from the saddle, and fondled his mare a moment. "Eh, my beauty!" He had +had her through the Marquis' advice, a fine, fleet black, with powerful +quarters, and a mouth of velvet. "Take her, Joshua." He stretched +himself, and swore at his stiffness. The landlord set open the door, +and bowed him into the low-pitched taproom.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet sent him to fetch wine, and seemed to snuff the air. +"Faugh!" It was squalid in the taproom, of a piece with the untidy yard +without. He went to the window and forced it open to let in the clean +air.</p> + +<p>The landlord came back with the wine, looked askance at the open +window, and muttered a little under his breath. Sir Nicholas drank +deeply, and upon the shuffling entrance of an out-at-elbows servant, +stretched out his legs to have the high boots pulled off.</p> + +<p>He was at supper—a meagre collation which drew sundry pungent remarks +from Joshua—when there came the sound of a led horse on the cobbles +outside. A moment later the door was thrust open, and a young +gentleman came in, very out of temper.</p> + +<p>He was dressed richly, but dust lay on his fine clothes. He scowled +at Beauvallet, seated at the table, and shouted for the landlord. +Upon this worthy's coming the young gentleman burst into a flood of +angry talk. His woes seemed to be many. There was, to start with, the +excessive dust upon the road which had well-nigh choked him; to go on, +there was a sick man at the regular inn some miles back; to crown his +troubles his horse had gone lame, the jade, and another must be brought +him on the instant.</p> + +<p>Having delivered himself of this demand my fine gentleman flung off his +cloak, bespoke supper, and sat down on the settle with the air of a +thwarted school-boy.</p> + +<p>The problem of horse-flesh was beyond the landlord's solving. He gave +his new guest to understand that he had no riding horse in his stables, +nor could he tell where any might be found in this hamlet. Monsieur +must send to the nearest town, back along the road.</p> + +<p>At this monsieur let forth an oath, and declared that he had no time to +waste, but must be gone over the Frontier first thing in the morning. +Mine host had nothing to say to this, but shrugged sullenly, and turned +away. His ear was seized between a finger and thumb. "Look you! a +horse, and swiftly!" snarled monsieur.</p> + +<p>"I keep no horse," reiterated the landlord. He rubbed his ear, +aggrieved. "There are but two horses in my barn, and they belong to +this gentleman."</p> + +<p>Upon this monsieur became aware of Beauvallet, struggling with a tough +fowl. He bowed slightly. Sir Nicholas raised an eyebrow, and nodded in +return, wasting little ceremony.</p> + +<p>"Give you good-evening, monsieur." The young gentleman tried to conceal +his ill-temper. "You will have heard that I have suffered a misfortune."</p> + +<p>"Ay, faith, the whole house will have heard it," said Sir Nicholas, and +poured more wine.</p> + +<p>Monsieur bit his lip. "I have urgent need of a horse," he announced. "I +shall be happy to buy one or other of your nags, if you will sell."</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks," Sir Nicholas answered.</p> + +<p>Monsieur brightened. "You will oblige me?"</p> + +<p>"Desolated, sir! I cannot oblige you," said Sir Nicholas, who had small +mind to part with his horses.</p> + +<p>This seemed final, to be sure. A rich colour mounted to monsieur's +cheeks; he choked back his spleen, and condescended to plead, though +stiffly.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas tilted back his chair, and tucked his hands in his belt. +He looked mockingly at the young Frenchman. "My good young sir, I +counsel you to be patient," he said, "You may send to the town in the +morning, and procure a horse against your needs. I do not part with +mine."</p> + +<p>"One of these nags!" Monsieur snorted. "I do not think that would suit +me, sir."</p> + +<p>"And I am quite sure it would not suit me, sir," said Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>The Frenchman looked at him with evident dislike. "I have informed you, +sir, that my need is instant."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas yawned.</p> + +<p>For a moment the Frenchman seemed inclined to burst forth into fresh +vituperations. He bit his nails, glaring, and took a quick turn about +the room. "You use me ungraciously!" he flung over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Well-a-day!" said Sir Nicholas ironically.</p> + +<p>Monsieur took yet another turn, seemed again to choke back some hasty +utterance, and at length forced a smile. "Well, I will not quarrel with +you," he said,</p> + +<p>"You would find it very difficult," nodded Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Monsieur opened his mouth, shut it again, and swallowed hard. "Permit +me to share your board," he said at last.</p> + +<p>"With all my heart, youngling," Sir Nicholas answered, but there had +come a watchful gleam into his eyes.</p> + +<p>But the Frenchman seemed to cast aside his evil-humours in good sooth. +True, he railed a little at ill-fortune, but was forward with plans for +the acquisition of a horse upon the morrow. The plague was on it he +could scarce hope to get across the Frontier now for two days. As he +remembered the town lay many leagues behind—but he would not complain. +He pledged Beauvallet in a brimming cup.</p> + +<p>Supper being at an end, monsieur grew restless, complained of the +ill-entertainment, pished at the poor light afforded by two tallow +candles, and at length proposed an encounter with the dice, if such +might chance to jump with monsieur's humour.</p> + +<p>"Excellent well," said Beauvallet, and banged on the table with his +empty cup to summon back the landlord. Dice were brought, more wine was +set upon the table, and the evening bade fair to be merry.</p> + +<p>The dice rattled in the box. "A main!" said monsieur.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet called it, and cast the dice. Monsieur rattled the bones, +and threw a nick. Coins were pushed across the greasy boards; fresh +wine was poured; the two men bent over the table, absorbed in the game.</p> + +<p>It was a merry evening enough. The candles burned low in their sockets; +the wine passed freely, and more freely yet; money changed hands, back +and forth. At last one of the candles guttered dismally, and went +out. Beauvallet thrust back his chair, and passed a hand across his +brow. "Enough!" he said, somewhat thickly. "God's me, after midnight +already?" He rose unsteadily, and stretched his arms above his head. +This made for a slight stagger. He laughed. "Cup-shotten!" he said, and +laughed again, and swayed a little on his toes.</p> + +<p>The Frenchman sprang up, steady enough upon his feet, but flushed, and +somewhat wild-eyed. He had not drunk as much as Beauvallet. "A last +toast!" he cried, and slopped more wine into the empty cups. "To a +speedy journey, say I!"</p> + +<p>"God save you!" said Beauvallet. He drank deep, and sent the empty cup +spinning over his shoulder to crash against the wall behind him. "One +candle between the two of us." He picked it up, and the hot tallow +dripped on to the floor. "Up with you, youngling." He stood at the +foot of the rickety stairs, holding the candle unsteadily aloft. The +dim light flickered over the steps; the Frenchman went up, with a hand +against the wall.</p> + +<p>Upstairs a lantern, burning low, was discovered. The Frenchman took it, +called a good-night, and went into his chamber. Sir Nicholas, yawning +prodigiously, sought his own, and stumbled over the low truckle-bed on +which Joshua lay peacefully asleep. "God's Death!" swore Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Joshua was awakened by a drop of tallow alighting on his nose, and +started up, rubbing the afflicted member.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet set down the candle, laughing. "My poor Joshua!"</p> + +<p>"Master, you are in your cups," Joshua said severely.</p> + +<p>"None so deep," said Sir Nicholas cheerfully, and found the basin and +ewer that stood upon a rude chest. There was a great splashing of +water, and a spluttering. "Pouf!" said Sir Nicholas, towelling his +head. "Go to sleep, starveling. What are you at?"</p> + +<p>Joshua was for rising. "You've need to come out of those clothes, sir," +said he.</p> + +<p>"Oh, let be!" said Beauvallet, and flung himself down as he was upon +the bed.</p> + +<p>The candle went out, but the moonlight shone in at the uncurtained +window. It lit Beauvallet's face, but could not keep him awake. Soon a +snore disturbed the stillness, and then another.</p> + +<p>He was awakened out of a deep sleep by a hand shaking his shoulder, and +a hissing whisper in his ear. He came groping out of the mists, felt +the clutch upon his shoulder, and of instinct shot out a pair of hands +to grasp the unknown's throat. "Ha, dog!"</p> + +<p>Joshua choked, and tried to tear apart the gripping fingers. "'Tis +I—Joshua!" he gasped.</p> + +<p>The grip slackened at once. Sir Nicholas sat up, and was shaken with +laughter. "Ye were nigh sped that time, chewet! What a-plague ails you +to come pawing me?"</p> + +<p>"Matter enough," Joshua said. "Ha' done with your laughter, sir! Yon +Frenchman's crept below stairs to steal the mare."</p> + +<p>"What!" Beauvallet swung his legs off the bed, and felt for his shoon. +"Cock's passion, that whey-faced maltworm! How learned you this?"</p> + +<p>Joshua was groping for his breeches. "I waked to hear one go creeping +down the stairs. A step creaked. Be sure I was alert upon the instant! +<i>I</i> do not fall cup-shotten into a stupor."</p> + +<p>"Peace, you elf-skin! What then?"</p> + +<p>"Then might I hear the door open stealthily below, and in a moment a +cloaked fellow with a lantern crosses the yard to the barn. Ho, thinks +I——"</p> + +<p>"Give me my sword," Beauvallet interrupted, and made for the door.</p> + +<p>"I shall be with you on the instant!" Joshua hissed after him. "A +plague on these points!"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas went swiftly down the stairs, sword in hand, and crossed +the taproom in two bounds to the door. Outside in the yard was bright +moonlight, and to the right the barn cast a great black shadow. Through +the door came the glimmer of a lantern, and the muffled sound of +movement.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet gave his head a little shake, as though to cast off the +lingering fumes of the wine he had drunk, and went forward, cat-like, +over the cobbles.</p> + +<p>Inside the barn the Frenchman was hurriedly buckling saddle-girths. +Beauvallet's mare was bridled already. A lantern stood upon the baked +mud floor, and the Frenchman's cloak and hat were flung down beside it. +His fingers trembled a little as he tugged at the straps; his back was +turned towards the door.</p> + +<p>There came a sound to make him jump well-nigh out of his skin, and spin +round to face the door. Sir Nicholas stood there with a naked sword in +his hand, laughing at him.</p> + +<p>"Oho, my young iniquity!" said Sir Nicholas, and laughed again. "Now I +think you are shent!"</p> + +<p>For an instant the Frenchman stood at gaze, his face all twisted with +fury. And Beauvallet set his sword point to the ground, and laughed at +his discomfiture. Then, suddenly, the Frenchman sprang forward, tearing +his sword from the scabbard, and in his leap contrived to kick over the +lantern, and put out its frail light. Sir Nicholas stood in the shaft +of moonlight in the open doorway, but all else in the barn was pitch +dark.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet's sword flashed out before him; he sprang lightly to one +side, felt a blade thrust within a hair's breadth of his shoulder, and +lunged swiftly forward. His point went home; there was a choked gurgle, +the clatter of a sword falling to earth, and a dull thud.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet swore beneath his breath, and stood listening, backed +against the wall, with a shortened sword. Only the uneasy snorting and +pawing of the horses broke the silence. He moved forward cautiously, +and stumbled against something that lay on the ground at his feet. +"God's Body, have I killed the boy?" he muttered, and bent over the +still figure.</p> + +<p>Across the yard Joshua came running at full-tilt, and bounded into the +barn. "'Swounds! What's here? Master? Sir Nicholas!"</p> + +<p>"A plague on your screechings! Help me with this carcass."</p> + +<p>"What, dead?" gasped Joshua, feeling in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"I know not." Sir Nicholas spoke curtly. "Take you his legs, and help +me to bear him out. So!"</p> + +<p>They carried their burden out into the moonlight, and laid it down on +the cobbles. Beauvallet knelt, and stripped open the elegant doublet, +feeling for the heart. A clean-edged wound was there, deep and true.</p> + +<p>"Peste, I thrust better than I knew," Beauvallet muttered. "The devil! +But the young traitor sought to murder me. What's this?"</p> + +<p>A silken packet was in his hand, attached to a riband about the dead +man's neck.</p> + +<p>"Open," said Joshua, shivering. "Perchance you might learn his name."</p> + +<p>"What should that benefit me, fool?" But Sir Nicholas took the packet, +and thrust it into his doublet. "This is to ruin all. We must bury him, +Joshua, and that speedily. No noise mind!"</p> + +<p>"Bury! With your sword?" Joshua said. "The evil hour! Nay, wait! As I +remember there are tools within the barn."</p> + +<p>An hour later, the grim work done, Sir Nicholas, thoroughly sobered +now, came softly back to the inn. He was frowning a little. This was +an ill happening, and had gone otherwise than he had planned. Yet who +would have thought that the young fool would play the traitor so? He +mounted silently to his chamber again, and sat down on the bed, while +Joshua relit the lantern.</p> + +<p>It was set upon the chest. Beauvallet slowly wiped his sword, and +returned it to its scabbard. He drew forth the packet from his breast, +and slit open the silk with his dagger. Crackling sheets of paper +were inside. Beauvallet bent towards the lamp. His eyes ran over the +first sheet frowningly, and came to rest on the signature. A short +exclamation broke from him, and he pulled the lantern nearer yet. He +held a letter from the Guise to King Philip in his hand, but the bulk +of it was writ in cypher.</p> + +<p>Joshua, inquisitively hovering at hand, ventured a question. "What is +it, master? Doth the writing give his name, perchance?"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet was looking now at a fair-inscribed pass. "It seems, my +Joshua," he said, "that I have slain a scion of the house of Guise."</p> + +<p>"God mend my soul!" quoth Joshua. "Shall it serve, master? Shall we +turn it to good account?"</p> + +<p>"Since these purport to be papers writ to his Catholic Majesty it seems +we may turn it to very good account," Sir Nicholas said, poring over +the first paper again. "Now, I have some knowledge of cyphers, as I +believe...." He looked up. "Get you to bed, rogue, get you to bed!"</p> + +<p>An hour later Joshua, waking as he turned on his bed, saw Sir Nicholas +seated still by the chest, with a soaked cloth bound about a head which +Joshua judged had good cause to ache, and his brows close-knit over the +papers. Joshua closed his eyes again, and sank back into slumber.</p> + +<p>He woke again to broad daylight. Sir Nicholas lay asleep in the big +bed; there was no sign of the papers. Joshua dressed softly, and stole +away downstairs. He found there a perplexed landlord who was loud in +abuse of the young gentleman who had stolen away in the night without +paying his shot. Joshua's casual interest in this was well acted. He +asked the proper questions, exclaimed piously at such behaviour, and +thought privately of the night's work.</p> + +<p>In a little while the voice of Sir Nicholas was heard, calling for his +man. Joshua skipped upstairs with a tray bearing his master's breakfast.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was wide awake, and as brisk as though he had not sat up +through the night puzzling over a cypher. His eyes were bright and +unclouded; only a damp cloth on the floor bore witness of the night's +labours.</p> + +<p>Joshua set down the tray, and shook out a clean shirt for Sir Nicholas. +"Look you, master, there is a deal of pother below, on account of +we-know-what. Where is the man gone? why is he gone? I do not presume +to answer, me, but I consider it meet we should make all speed over the +Frontier."</p> + +<p>"Just as soon as I have broken my fast," said Beauvallet. "See that +door well-shut. Now, rogue, give ear a minute." He drank some wine, and +broke off a piece of rye bread. "I am become overnight the Chevalier +Claude de Guise, do ye mark me?"</p> + +<p>"Well, master. I said we might turn all to good account."</p> + +<p>"The best. I don't fathom all these papers, and one is sealed fast. But +enough to serve, I judge. Matters too high for you, but ye may know +that we travel henceforth as a secret messenger from the Guise to King +Philip. Hey, but I have meat for Walsingham in this!" He stretched, and +reached out a hand for his shirt. "A great venture, rogue—the greatest +I have been on."</p> + +<p>"Like to end in nasty wise," Joshua grumbled. "Secret messengers, +forsooth! Ay, we shall be so secret there's none will hear of us again."</p> + +<p>"An ill jest. This as mad a quest as I have ever known. Does your +courage fail? Turn back then, you have still time."</p> + +<p>Joshua threw out his chest. "Ho, pretty speaking! I follow to the end. +Moreover, it has been foretold that I shall die in my bed. What have I +to fear?"</p> + +<p>"On then," said Sir Nicholas, and laughed. "On, and reck not!"</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>It was an easy matter to cross the Frontier, armed with the Chevalier +de Guise's credentials. From as much of the despatch to Philip as +he could read, or was not sealed, Beauvallet had learned that the +youthful Frenchman was some sort of a cousin to the Duc de Guise, and +it seemed probable from so particular a mention of him that he had not +been employed on an errand into Spain before. Beauvallet did not doubt +that he could brave out the imposture, but he knew that he carried his +life in his hand. One evil chance, one Frenchman in Madrid to whom the +Chevalier was known, and he might expect to find himself sped. The +knowledge made him set his horse caracolling on the road, never so +keenly enjoying life as when he stood in danger of losing it. He tossed +his sword up in the air, and caught it deftly as it fell. The sunlight +glinted all along the shimmering blade. Between eight crowns the name +Andrea Ferrara was inscribed, and beneath it a pungent motto:—<i>My bite +is sure</i>. "A sword and my wits against all Spain!" sang out Beauvallet, +and whistled a catch between his teeth. Then he fell to thinking of her +whom he went to seek, and the leagues passed uncounted.</p> + +<p>There was time enough for meditation during these long days upon the +road, for it took them close on two weeks to come within sight of +Madrid, a white town perched on a spur above a vast plateau, looking +north over many windy leagues to the Guadarrama Mountains, and south to +the grand chain that guarded Toledo.</p> + +<p>The roads called forth curses from Joshua, struggling with the led +sumpter. Years ago he had journeyed into Spain with Beauvallet, but +he protested that he had forgotten long since how incomparably bad +were the roads. He rode to the rear, and observed all with bright, +calculating eyes. "Naught but sheep!" he grunted. "Enough to ravage +the land. God's Life, but this is a poor country! Ruin stares us in +the face, master, from all sides. Here are no crops, no snug farmers. +Naught but bare rocks, and dust. And sheep—I forget the sheep, which +you would have thought hardly possible. Why, call you this a road? Ho, +we Englishmen can still teach the Spaniards some few matters, it seems!"</p> + +<p>"Set a guard on that tongue of yours," Beauvallet said sharply. "Let me +hear no talk of Englishmen. Ay, this is a waste country. Now, how might +a runner go at speed, to the Frontier, let us say?"</p> + +<p>"He might not, master, on these roads, without foundering. It's a land +of the Dark Ages, one would say. Bethink you of the fair manor my lord +has built him in Alreston, and look on these grim fortresses!" He spoke +of a gloomy castle seen some miles back along the road, and shuddered. +"Nay, I like not this land. It frowns, master! Mark what I say, it +frowns!"</p> + +<p>Over the Guadarrama Mountains they climbed, and dropped on to the +great, parched plateau. They rode league upon weary league, and at last +saw Madrid ahead, and came to it in the cold of the evening. Joshua +shivered on his horse, and muttered against a climate so extreme. He +was roasted by day, he swore, but when evening fell Arctic winds arose +that were like to lay him low of a fever.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet knew Madrid of old, but found it grown since his day. He +made his way to the inn of the Rising Sun, lying some paces off the +Puerta del Sol. It was not necessary to caution Joshua again. That +wiry individual ceased complaining as they climbed the steep streets +into the heart of the town, and might be trusted to carry all off with +a bold front. Beauvallet had no fear of unwitting betrayal from him. +French he spoke fluently, if roughly, and Spanish very fairly. He was +not likely to slip into his own tongue through inability to find words +in a foreign language.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas bespoke a private room at the inn, and supped there that +evening, waited on by Joshua. "Since it is very certain that the French +Ambassador is not privy to this correspondence I carry, you will say, +Joshua, that I am travelling for my pleasure. You know naught of secret +documents."</p> + +<p>"Master, what will you do with those papers?" Joshua asked uneasily.</p> + +<p>The corners of Sir Nicholas' mouth lifted under the trim moustachio. +"Why, present them to his Catholic Majesty! What else?"</p> + +<p>"'S death, sir, will you go into the lion's den?" quaked Joshua.</p> + +<p>"I know of only one lion, sirrah, and that one is not to be found in +Spain!" Beauvallet said. "I am bound on the morrow for the Alcazar. Lay +me out a rich suit of the French cut." He brought out the stolen papers +from his bosom, and laid them on the table. "And stitch me these safe +in a length of silk." His eyes twinkled. "What, do you tremble still? +Cross yourself, and say Jesu! It's in the part."</p> + +<p>Access to the Alcazar was not found to be so easy as access to any of +Queen Elizabeth's palaces. There was a long delay, many questions, and +the pseudo-Chevalier's credentials were taken from him while he was +left to cool his heels in the great austere hall.</p> + +<p>He sat down on a carved chair of cypress wood, and looked about him +with interest. There was much sombre marble, much rich brocade, and +hangings of Flanders tapestry depicting the martyrdoms of various +saints. A statue in bronze stood at the foot of the wide stairway; +there were Turkey carpets on the floor, strange sight to an English +eye, so that footsteps fell muffled. Certain, there was no sound in the +Alcazar. Lackeys stood graven on either side the great door; sundry +personages passed across the hall from time to time, but they spoke +no word. There was a courtier, all in silk and velvet; a soberly clad +individual whom Beauvallet took to be a secretary; a priest of the +Dominican order with his cowl shading his face, and his hands hidden in +the wide sleeves of his habit; an elderly man who looked curiously at +Beauvallet; an officer of the guard, a hurrying woman who might be a +maid of honour.</p> + +<p>It was oppressive in the lofty hall; the very hush of the place might +have preyed on nerves less hardy than Beauvallet's. Here, to an +Englishman, was a place of grim foreboding, of lurking terror. It did +not need the sight of that dark priest to conjure up hideous pictures +to the mind.</p> + +<p>But Sir Nicholas saw no hideous pictures, and his pulse beat as +steadily as ever. A false step, and he would never again see England: +with a kind of brazen dare-devilry he was confident there would be no +false step. In Paris, a month ago, the Marquis de Belrémy had said +aghast:—"<i>Mon Dieu, quel sang-froid!</i>" Could he have set eyes on +his kinsman now he would have been still more aghast, and might have +repeated with even more conviction, that Nicholas would sit jesting in +hell's mouth itself.</p> + +<p>After a full half-hour's wait the lackey came back with a long-gowned, +close shaven secretary who looked keenly at Beauvallet. "You are the +Chevalier de Guise?" he asked in French.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was swinging his golden pomander. He did not think, from +his knowledge of them, that the Guise would rise out of their seats for +a mere scrivener. Gravely he bowed his head.</p> + +<p>"You have letters for his Majesty?" pursued the secretary.</p> + +<p>Again Beauvallet bowed, and knew that he was creating a good +impression. Privately he thought: "Our sovereign keeps men of better +blood than this about her, God wot!" He was very quick to nose out the +parvenu.</p> + +<p>The secretary bowed in his turn, and held out his hand. "I will deliver +them to his Majesty, señor."</p> + +<p>At that Beauvallet raised his black brows delicately. Maybe he thought +it more in the part, maybe it was the audacity of the man, or a mere +curiosity to see this far-famed Philip, but he said gently: "My orders, +señor, are to deliver these letters into his Majesty's own hands."</p> + +<p>The secretary bowed again. "All goes very well," thought Beauvallet, +watching him like a lynx, in spite of his careless demeanour.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, señor, if you please," said the secretary, and led the way +up the stairs to a long gallery above.</p> + +<p>Down a labyrinth of corridors they seemed to walk, until they came to +a curtained doorway. Beauvallet went through into a severely furnished +chamber, and was left there to wait again.</p> + +<p>More martyrdoms hung on the walls. Sir Nicholas grimaced at them, and +deplored his Catholic Majesty's taste. Another half-hour passed; King +Philip was in no hurry, it seemed. Sir Nicholas looked out of the +window on to a paved court, and yawned from time to time.</p> + +<p>Back came the secretary at last. "His Majesty will receive you, señor," +he said, and gave back the Chevalier's credentials into his keeping. +"This way, if you please." He held back the curtain for Beauvallet to +pass out, and led him across the corridor to double doors. These opened +at his scratch upon the solid panels; Sir Nicholas found himself in +an ante-chamber where two men sat writing at a table, and two guards +stood beside the doors. He followed the secretary across the room to a +curtained archway; the curtain was swung back by a guard there, and the +secretary went through. "The Chevalier de Guise, sire," he said, bowing +very low, and drew back a little against the wall.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas came coolly in, paused a moment as the curtain fell back +into place behind him, and in one swift glance noted the contents of +this bare, cell-like apartment. There was little enough to note. A +chest, an escritoire, a priest by the window, a table in the middle of +the room, and behind it, seated in a high-backed chair with arms, with +his foot upon a velvet stool, a pallid man with sparse yellow locks, +flecked with grey; and a yellow beard, scant as his meagre thatch; and +hooded eyes, sombre and vulturine under the puckered lids.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas sank gracefully down on to his knee; the plumes in his +hat swept the ground before him. "God's my life!" was his irrepressible +thought. "The two of us in one small room, and he does not know it!"</p> + +<p>"The Chevalier de Guise," repeated Philip in a slow, harsh voice. "We +bid you welcome, señor."</p> + +<p>But there was no kindliness in the expressionless tone, nor any life in +those dull eyes. "There would be less kindliness if he knew how he bade +Nick Beauvallet welcome," thought Sir Nicholas, as he rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>Philip, sitting so still in his chair, seemed to study him for a +moment. It was tense, that moment, fraught with peril. Sir Nicholas +stood calmly under the scrutiny; they were not to know how ready to be +out was the sword at his side. The moment passed. "You have letters for +us," said the slow voice.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet brought the silken packet out from the breast of his +doublet, came to the table, knelt again, and so offered it.</p> + +<p>The King's hand touched his as he took the packet; the fingers felt +cold and slightly damp. He gave the packet to the secretary, and made a +movement to Beauvallet to rise. "Your first visit to Spain, señor?"</p> + +<p>"My first, sire."</p> + +<p>Philip inclined his head. The secretary had slit the silken wrapper, +and now spread crackling sheets before his master. Philip's eyes +travelled slowly over the first page, but never changed in their +lack-lustre expression. "I see you are cousin to the Duc de Guise, +señor," he remarked, and pushed the sheets away from him on the table's +polished surface. "We will look over these matters, and have an answer +for you in a week or so." Haste was a word not in his Majesty's +vocabulary. He spoke to the secretary. "Vasquez, if Don Diaz de Losa +is in the palace you will send to fetch him." He brought his gaze back +to Beauvallet. "Don Diaz will look to your entertainment, señor. Your +lodging?"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet gave the name of his inn. Philip seemed to consider it. +"Yes, it is best," he said. "You are not here officially."</p> + +<p>"I give out, sire, that I am travelling for my pleasure."</p> + +<p>"That is well," said Philip. "You will contrive to pass the time +pleasantly, I trust. Madrid has much to show."</p> + +<p>"I have promised myself a ride out to see the great Escorial, sire," +said Sir Nicholas, assuming reverential tones.</p> + +<p>Some spark of life entered Philip's eyes, enthusiasm into his dead +voice. He began to talk of his vast palace, nearing its completion, he +said. He talked as one absorbed in his theme, as in a holy matter, and +was still talking when Matteo de Vasquez came back into the room. He +was accompanied by a stately gentleman of middle years, dressed very +magnificently, in contrast to the black-garbed King.</p> + +<p>The brief enthusiasm left Philip. He presented Don Diaz de Losa, and +consigned the Chevalier to his care. In the wake of this nobleman +Beauvallet bowed himself out of the King's cabinet.</p> + +<p>It seemed that Don Diaz was in the King's confidence, for he asked none +but the most trivial questions. He had a grave Castilian courtesy, and +begged that the Chevalier would call on him for any needs he might +have. He escorted him through the corridors to a gallery, where a fair +sprinkling of gentlemen were gathered, and presented him punctiliously +to all who were present. The Chevalier was a gentleman from the +French Court, travelling to enlarge his knowledge of the world. Thus +Beauvallet was sponsored into society. Don Diaz requested his company +at a party at his house that evening, Beauvallet accepted without +hesitation. He stayed some while in the gallery talking to these +grandees of Spain, and presently took his leave. Don Diaz went with him +to the hall, and they parted with great politeness.</p> + +<p>Joshua was anxiously awaiting his master's return, and heaved a large +sigh of relief upon seeing him come in, Sir Nicholas flung himself +into a chair. "God's Death, what a court!" he said. Then he began to +laugh. "What a king! what a graven king! If one had but whispered <i>El +Beauvallet</i> in his ear! Only to see him start!"</p> + +<p>"God forbid!" said Joshua devoutly. "Hey, but this likes me not at +all!" He looked anxiously. "How long do we remain, master?"</p> + +<p>"Who knows? What a tale for Drake! God send I win through to tell it +him!"</p> + +<p>"God send so indeed, sir," said Joshua glumly.</p> + +<p>"Comfort you, knave: in three short weeks the <i>Venture</i> will cruise +off that smuggling port we wot of, and every night she will creep in +towards the coast, and watch for my signal."</p> + +<p>"What use if you be clapped up?" said Joshua rather tartly.</p> + +<p>"I shall win free, don't doubt it. Hearken, my man, a moment! This +plot grows thicker still, and there are pitfalls. If I should fall +into one...." He paused, and sniffed at his pomander, eyes narrowed +and meditative. "Ay. If I be taken, Joshua, remove on the instant from +this place, with all my traps. Go look for an obscure tavern against +our needs. I shall then know where to find you. When you hear of my +death—or if I come not inside ten days—make all speed to that port, +and signal with a lantern after dark, as you know how. That's in case +of need. Trust yet awhile in Beauvallet's luck. Go now, and nose me out +the house of Don Diaz de Losa. I visit there this evening. If you can +get news of Don Manuel de Rada, call me your debtor."</p> + +<p>"A plague on all women!" Joshua said. But he said it on the other side +of the door.</p> + +<p>Don Diaz de Losa's apartments were crowded when Beauvallet arrived that +evening. There was dicing going forward in one room, where a great +many young caballeros were gathered, but the function seemed to have +more the nature of a cold reception. Magnificent gentlemen strolled +from group to group; there were ladies amongst them, not so discreet +as had been the ladies of Spain in a bygone age. Serving men in the +de Losa livery, each one bearing his master's cognizance offered +refreshments on heavy silver trays to the guests. There was wine in +glasses of Venetian ware: Valdepeñas from Morena, red wine of Vinaroz +and Benicarlo; Manzanilla, lightest of sherris-wines from San Lucar. +With these went sweetmeats and fruit: Asturian pomegranates and grapes +from Malaga, but other refreshment there was none. To an English taste +this might seem meagre, to be sure, in the face of so much ostentatious +display. Don Diaz's house had carpets to tread upon, chairs lined +with cut velvet, candelabras of wrought silver, a Toledo clock of rare +design, hangings of silk and tapestry, but it did not seem to be the +Spanish custom to entertain guests with banquets, as would have been +done in kindlier England.</p> + +<p>There was an oppressive grandeur over all, as though each man, were +mindful of his high degree, and the canons of polite behaviour. +No voice was raised light-heartedly; all talk was measured and +punctilious, so that Beauvallet's laugh sounded strangely in this +sedate gathering, and men turned their heads to see whence came the +care-free sound.</p> + +<p>It had been provoked by a gentleman from Andalusia, to whom Don Diaz +had made the Chevalier known. This Southerner had a gaiety lacking in +the grave Castilians, or the proud Aragonese, and had cracked some joke +for the Chevalier's delectation. They stood chatting easily enough, so +easily that Don Juan was moved to congratulate the Chevalier on the +excellence of his Spanish. No doubt the señor had been in Spain before, +or had at least Spanish friends?</p> + +<p>Beauvallet owned to a Spanish friend, and said that this one had +enjoyed the acquaintance of Don Manuel de Rada y Sylva. Had he the name +aright?</p> + +<p>"Ah, the late Governor of Santiago!" Don Juan said, and shook his head.</p> + +<p>The golden pomander was held to the Chevalier's nose. Over it his eyes +were watchful. "I had thought to present myself to him," Beauvallet +said.</p> + +<p>"You have not heard, señor: Don Manuel is dead these three months. A +strange tale!"</p> + +<p>"Dead!" Beauvallet said. "How is that?"</p> + +<p>"The West Indian climate, señor. Treacherous! ah, but treacherous! But +there was more to it: a tale to take one's breath away!"</p> + +<p>"But let me hear it, señor, of your kindness!"</p> + +<p>The Southerner spread out his hands. "Have you in France heard of a +certain English pirate? One named El Beauvallet?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly!" Sir Nicholas' eyes danced. "Who has not heard of him? The +Scourge of Spain I have heard him called. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"Very right, señor. Alas! They say the man uses witchcraft." Don Juan +crossed himself, and was swiftly imitated. Sir Nicholas' black lashes +hid the laughter in his down-cast eyes. When he raised them again they +were grave, if you could discount the merriness that must always lurk +at the back of them. Don Juan, absorbed in his tale, did not notice +it. "He sacked and sank the ship that bore Don Manuel home, and—you +will scarce credit it—took Don Manuel and his daughter aboard his own +vessel."</p> + +<p>"So!" Beauvallet raised politely surprised eyebrows. "But wherefor?"</p> + +<p>"Who shall say, señor? A mad whim one would suppose, for one can hardly +credit such a man with chivalrous intent. They say he is mad, who have +had traffic with him. But he had the effrontery, señor, to put into a +port of Spain, and there to set Don Manuel ashore!"</p> + +<p>"You astonish me, señor," said Sir Nicholas. "I suppose he bore off the +daughter to England, this famous freebooter?"</p> + +<p>"One might have expected it, but no. Doña Dominica took no hurt, +though her father died soon after his landing. She is under the +guardianship of her good aunt, Doña Beatrice de Carvalho."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for that information," thought Sir Nicholas, and made a +mental note of the name. Aloud he said: "But this is a wonder that you +recount, señor! To escape unhurt from the clutches of so desperate a +villain as this Beauvallet!" His shoulders shook ever so slightly.</p> + +<p>A gentleman standing close to them turned his head and looked keenly. +He bowed to Don Juan, and again to the Chevalier. "Your pardon, señor, +but you spoke a certain name. Has that freebooter been taken at last?"</p> + +<p>Don Juan made the introduction, but it was Beauvallet who answered. +"Nay, nay, señor! Surely he bears a charmed life? I have heard men say +so."</p> + +<p>"As to that, we shall see, señor," said the newcomer. "You have set +eyes on him, maybe?"</p> + +<p>"I have seen him, yes," Sir Nicholas answered. The long fingers that +swung his pomander gently to and fro never quivered. "In Paris, where +he sometimes visits."</p> + +<p>Don Juan displayed a lively curiosity. "Is it so indeed? And is he as +mad as they say? They tell us, who have had dealings with him, that he +is a man with black hair who laughs."</p> + +<p>White teeth gleamed for a moment. "Yes, he laughs, señor," said Sir +Nicholas. A chuckle came, they little knew how audacious. "I dare swear +if he stood in this room surrounded by his enemies at this moment, he +would still laugh. It is a habit with him."</p> + +<p>"One hardly credits it, señor," the stately gentleman replied. "There +would very soon be an end to his laughter." He bowed slightly, and +passed on.</p> + +<p>Don Diaz came up at that moment, and laid his hand on Beauvallet's arm. +"I have been searching for you, Chevalier. I would present you to a +countryman of yours: your ambassador, M. de Lauvinière."</p> + +<p>Not by the flicker of an eyelash did Beauvallet betray how unwelcome +this courtesy was to him. Danger crouched before him; he went smiling +towards it: Beauvallet's way!</p> + +<p>Don Diaz led him across the room, and spoke in a soft undertone. "It +is judged best, señor, that no secret should be made of your visit to +Madrid. M. de Lauvinière might then suspect. I need not warn you to be +on your guard with him. There he stands, near the door."</p> + +<p>The Frenchman was a man with grey hair and a hook nose. His eyes were +deep-set, and he looked piercingly. Upon Don Diaz's presentation of the +Chevalier he bowed, and looked with a keenness that probed deep. "A +cousin of the Duc de Guise?" he said. "I do not think...." He frowned a +little, and his eyes never wavered from Beauvallet's face. "But I claim +the very slightest acquaintance with the Guises."</p> + +<p>Therein lay a certain safeguard, thought Beauvallet. It was not to +be expected that a member of the Court party would be on terms of +friendship with the great Guise family.</p> + +<p>"I am a distant cousin of the Duc's, monsieur," said Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"So?" De Lauvinière looked still more searchingly. "Of what branch of +the family, monsieur, if one may ask?"</p> + +<p>It would not do to hesitate. "Of the junior branch, monsieur. The Duc +is my cousin in the second degree."</p> + +<p>"I have heard of you, monsieur," the ambassador said. "I had thought +you a younger man. Do you make a long stay in Madrid?"</p> + +<p>"Why no, monsieur, I believe not. I have a desire to visit Sevilla and +Toledo."</p> + +<p>"Ah yes, you should certainly journey south," nodded de Lauvinière.</p> + +<p>A lady came up on the arm of her husband to claim his attention. +Beauvallet drew back thankfully. Had he been vouchsafed a glimpse of a +postscript added to de Lauvinière's letter home, and despatched upon +the morrow, it might have shaken his nerve.</p> + +<p>"<i>I should be glad</i>," wrote his excellency, "<i>if you would discover +what age man is the Chevalier Claude de Guise, cousin to the present +Duc. Let me have what news you can hear of him, in especial of what +like he is, of what height, and of what lineaments. Your assured +friend, Henri de Lauvinière.</i>"</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</h2> +</div> + + +<p>In bed next morning Sir Nicholas sipped a cup of chocolate and gave +ear to his servant. Joshua had the news he wanted, and imparted it +after his own fashion as he laid out his master's dress. A bottle of +wine with the landlord of the Rising Sun had loosened a tongue that +dealt much in gossip. Who so clever as Joshua Dimmock at finding out +information? Let Sir Nicholas be at ease: the lady was found.</p> + +<p>"In the guardianship of her aunt. I know," Sir Nicholas said.</p> + +<p>Joshua was put out. "Ay, so it is, and Don Manuel dead these three +months. The lady inherits all—all!"</p> + +<p>"That does not concern us," said Beauvallet. "She cannot carry her +lands to England."</p> + +<p>"True, master, very true. But here is somewhat you may not have heard. +Her espousals are talked of."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas yawned. "They will be more talked of yet," said he.</p> + +<p>"Master, the tale runs that she will wed her cousin, one Diego de +Carvalho."</p> + +<p>"So-so!" said Beauvallet. "Early days to talk of betrothals yet. +Cousin, eh? That means a dispensation, or I'm much at fault."</p> + +<p>"You mistake me, sir: nothing is yet done. These are rumours." He +laid a finger against his nose. "This gives to think, master. I learn +that the Carvalhos are as poor as may be. Nothing to gape at there, +you say. True; there seem few enough nobles here with coins to rub +together. Curious, curious! And yet so much pomp! We do not use that +way in England. Under my breath I say it; have no fear of me. Perpend +then, master. What if this aunt—her name is Beatrice, for your better +information—hath made a little plot to possess herself of all this +wealth?"</p> + +<p>"Very possible," nodded Sir Nicholas. "And a bribe to the Church to +hasten the dispensation."</p> + +<p>"Certain, I think, master. These priests! If what one hears be true!"</p> + +<p>"What do you learn of Don Diego?" demanded Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Little to the point, sir. A creature of no weight, as it seems to me. +These Spanish caballeros! Foh, match me a young Englishman, say I! +Well, he is prodigal: all young men are so. It's to say nothing. He +does what all springalds do in ruffling it about the town. For the rest +I learn that he is accounted well-looking, rides comely, knows how to +handle a bilbo, hath elegant accomplishments by the score. You nose +out a fop. I do not gainsay it, for so it appears to me. He need not +concern us."</p> + +<p>"He might concern us very nearly," said Sir Nicholas. "What else? Is +the father of this fine sprig alive?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, master, but here again I would say, a creature of no account. +As I read our host's talk—in his cups he waxes a thought garrulous. +Strange sight in one so prim!—he lies beneath his good lady's thumb." +He made a descriptive gesture. "So! By all I can understand that is a +lady of odd manners, sir. You would say an original. We shall doubtless +know more anon. They have estates somewhere to the north of Burgos, as +I apprehend, but at this present, sir, they stay, all four, at their +house in Madrid. This I have found, off the Plaza de Oriente. While +you slept, master, I have been about the town a little. Some fine +buildings, to be sure, and a quantity of Popish Churches—enough to +turn a man's stomach. The house of the Carvalho you may find easily. +There is a wall grown with a vine at the back, and, as I judge, a +garden upon the inner side." He rolled a knowing eye. "Thought I, we +may find a use for that. Further, master, there is to be a ball given +this day week at that house, in honour of our Diego's birthday. This is +much talked of, for it seems these Spaniards do not give them often. +All the world will be there."</p> + +<p>"Then so must I," said Beauvallet, and sprang out of bed. "Now how to +make the acquaintance of the Carvalhos?"</p> + +<p>"Walk on the Mentidero, master," Joshua advised. "It is still the +haunt of your Court gallant, as I hear. You might compare it with Duke +Humphrey's Walk at home—to its disadvantage, mark you!"</p> + +<p>"A happy thought," said Beauvallet, pulling on his netherstocks. "I +might perchance come up with my friend of last night."</p> + +<p>The Mentidero was a raised walk along the wall of the Church of San +Felipe el Real, which stood at the entrance to the Calle Mayor. Here +came the wits of the day, and the courtiers, to exchange gossip, to +talk the latest scandal, to exhibit a new fashion in cloaks, or a new +way of tying a garter. Under it were a score of little booths, where +one might buy such trifles as a pair of embroidered gloves for a lady, +a love-knot, or an ouch of wrought silver. Across the Calle Mayor lay +the Oñate Palace, with the rough side-walk beneath where painters +showed their pictures to attract the Court. The market lay in the +centre of the Calle; there were water-carriers gathered there, and the +scene was busy and noisy. Round about were shops, and here and there a +coffee-house, where one might meet one's cronies.</p> + +<p>The gentleman from Andalusia was found upon the Mentidero, and +professed himself charmed to meet the Chevalier again. Sir Nicholas +joined him in his strolling up and down, and came at length to his +business with him. In default of Don Manuel, whom he had hoped to +meet, he would desire to present himself to Don Manuel's worthy +brother-in-law. Yet he was uncertain how this project might be +effected, since he could claim no acquaintance with the Carvalhos.</p> + +<p>The matter was very easily arranged. Don Juan de Aranda would himself +present the Chevalier any time he should choose. He might meet Don +Diego de Carvalho this very morning, if he wished, since Don Diego was +abroad, after his usual custom, upon the Mentidero. They had passed him +a while back, talking to de Lara and young Vasquez.</p> + +<p>They turned, therefore, and began to walk slowly back the way they had +come.</p> + +<p>"I understand Don Diego to be a very proper caballero," Beauvallet +remarked. "The only offspring, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"True, señor." Don Juan was a little reticent, and it struck Beauvallet +that he had no great admiration for Don Diego. Presently he nodded, and +spoke again. "There is Don Diego, señor: the smaller of the two."</p> + +<p>A slight young gentleman was lounging gracefully ahead of them, +exchanging languid conversation with another, just as elegant. Don +Diego was very dark, with black brows, almost meeting over the bridge +of his nose, and full, curved lips. He wore a jewel in the lobe of his +left ear, was very generously scented with musk, and twirled a rose +between one very white finger and thumb. A flat velvet hat with a plume +in it was set on his curled head at an angle; his ruff was large and +edged with lace, and his short cloak was lined with carnation silk.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas looked, and said afterwards that he had an instant itching +in his toe. Be that as it may, he went forward very pleasantly, and +upon Don Juan's introduction, made his best bow.</p> + +<p>The bow was returned. As Don Diego straightened his back he found a +pair of very bright blue eyes looking into his. The two men seemed +to measure each other; it is probable that each conceived an instant +dislike for the other, but each hid the uncharitable emotion.</p> + +<p>"The Chevalier is travelling amongst us for his pleasure," said Don +Juan. "We are all resolved to show him the true Spanish hospitality +that he may carry a good tale of us home with him to Paris."</p> + +<p>Don Diego smiled politely. "I hope so, señor. But the Chevalier comes +at a bad season; the amusements draw to a close, and we all think of +the country, just so soon as the Court moves to Valladolid." He looked +at Beauvallet. "A pity you did not come a month ago, señor. There was +a bull-fight might have interested you: I believe you do not have them +in France. And an <i>auto da fé</i> as well. There was a great press of +people," he said pensively. "One turned faint at the heat and the smell +of the common people."</p> + +<p>"Did you indeed?" said Beauvallet sarcastically. For the life of him +he could not control that disdainful curl of the lip. "What I have +missed!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I fear we shall see no more such sights yet awhile," said Don +Diego regretfully. His wandering gaze came back to Beauvallet. "I +regret I was not at de Losa's house last night, where I was told I +might have had the felicity of meeting you." He bowed again.</p> + +<p>"My loss, señor," said Sir Nicholas. "I looked for Don Manuel de Rada, +known to me through hearsay, and—alas!—heard the sad news of his +death."</p> + +<p>"Alas indeed," Don Diego answered. But it did not seem to Beauvallet +that this sentiment came from the heart.</p> + +<p>"I shall do myself the honour of waiting upon your father, señor," said +Beauvallet.</p> + +<p>"My father will count himself honoured, señor. Do you stay long in +Madrid?"</p> + +<p>"Some few weeks, perhaps. No more, I believe. But I detain you." He +stepped back, doffed his cap again, and bowed. "I shall hope to see +more of you, señor."</p> + +<p>"The pleasure will be mine, señor," returned Don Diego.</p> + +<p>On that they parted. Later in the day Sir Nicholas sought out his +sponsor, Don Diaz de Losa, and had no difficulty in getting from him a +letter of introduction to Don Rodriguez de Carvalho.</p> + +<p>"All goes merrily," he said to himself, as he walked back to the Rising +Sun. "Enough for one day, I think. Patience, Nick!"</p> + +<p>Upon the morrow he made his way to the Casa Carvalho, and was fortunate +enough to find Don Rodriguez at home. If he had hoped to see Dominica +he was disappointed. No glimpse of her could be obtained, though he +sharply scrutinised the windows that gave on to the <i>patio</i> as he +crossed it behind the lackey.</p> + +<p>He was ushered into a dusky library that looked out on to the walled +garden Joshua had discovered. Volumes in tooled leather lined the room; +there were several chairs of walnut, tortuously carved, a Catalan +chest, with flat pilasters upon its front and sides, and an escabeau +over against the window.</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez came in presently with de Losa's letter open in his +hand. He was a lean man of middle age, with eyes rather too close-set +to be trusted, Beauvallet thought. They shifted here and there, never +resting for long on any one object. His mouth bore some resemblance to +his son's, but there was weakness in the lines about it, and a kind of +petulant uncertainty in the slightly pouting underlip.</p> + +<p>He received the Chevalier kindly, and said a great deal that was proper +on the sad subject of his brother-in-law's death. His sighs were gusty, +he shook his head, cast down his eyes to the floor, and meandered on in +his talk of the exigencies of the West Indian climate.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet was becoming impatient of this tedious exchange of +futilities when they were interrupted by a sound on the gravel walk +outside. The long window was darkened, and there was the gentle hush of +a lady's skirts.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas turned quickly, but the lady who stood looking in was not +Dominica. She was a large woman, built on flowing lines, and dressed +very richly in an embroidered gown of purple mochado. Her hair was +extravagantly coiffed, her farthingale brushed the window-frame on +either side as she came through, and her ruff stood up high behind her +head. She was certainly handsome, and must have been lovely before +increasing years made her stout. Her mouth was faintly smiling, and her +eyes, almond-shaped under weary eyelids, smiled too. The hinted smile +betokened a sort of compassionate amusement, as though the lady looked +cynically upon her world, and found it foolish. She moved as one who +would never hurry, and in spite of her ungainly farthingale she walked +with a certain lazy grace.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Chevalier! My wife—Doña Beatrice," Don Rodriguez said. He +addressed the lady with a hint of fluster in his voice as though he +stood in lively awe of her. "My love, permit me to present to you a +noble stranger to Madrid—M. le Chevalier de Guise."</p> + +<p>The disillusioned eyes ran over Sir Nicholas; the smile seemed to +deepen. Doña Beatrice held out a passive hand, and appeared to approve +Beauvallet as he bent over it. Her voice was as languid as her +carriage. "A Frenchman," she remarked. "I had ever a kindness for a +Frenchman. Now, what do you make here, Chevalier?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but my pleasure, señora."</p> + +<p>It seemed an effort to her to raise her brows. "Do you find pleasure in +Madrid?" she inquired. She went to a chair and sank into it, and began +slowly to fan herself. "I find it unbearably fatiguing."</p> + +<p>"Why, señora, I find much pleasure here," Beauvallet answered.</p> + +<p>"You are young," she said, in extenuation. "And French. So much vigour! +So much enthusiasm!"</p> + +<p>"Plenty of food for enthusiasm in Madrid, madam," said Sir Nicholas +politely.</p> + +<p>"Ah! But when you attain to my years, señor, you will realize that +there is nothing in the world to feed enthusiasm."</p> + +<p>"I shall hope to preserve my illusions, madame."</p> + +<p>"It is far better to have none," drawled the lady.</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez, hovering solicitously about his spouse, smiled +deprecatingly. He found himself in constant need to temper her oddities +by this fidgetty, excusing smile.</p> + +<p>"Let us talk in your own tongue, Chevalier. I speak it very +indifferently, but it is a polite language." She spoke it very well.</p> + +<p>"My love, the Chevalier had hoped to find your poor brother. We have +been speaking of his sad death."</p> + +<p>She answered without taking the trouble to look at him. "Why sad, +señor? One must hope he has found repose. So you were acquainted with +my brother, Chevalier?"</p> + +<p>"No madame, but I knew a friend of his once, and I had hoped to present +myself to his notice upon that score."</p> + +<p>"You would not have found him at all entertaining," said Doña Beatrice. +"It is far better to know me."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas bowed. "I am sure of it, madame," he said, and was +inclined to think he spoke sooth.</p> + +<p>"I must have you come to my ball on Friday evening," she announced. "It +will be very painstaking and very dull. You shall solace my boredom. I +suppose you must meet my son." She sighed and addressed Don Rodriguez. +"Señor, Don Diego is somewhere at hand. Pray send for him."</p> + +<p>"I have already had that pleasure, madame. I met your son upon the +Mentidero yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Ah, then you will not want to see him again," she said, as though she +perfectly understood. "You need not send, señor."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas bit his lip. "On the contrary, I shall be charmed, madame."</p> + +<p>Her eyelids lifted for a moment. He thought he had never seen eyes so +curiously cold, so cynical, yet so good-humoured. "Señor, send for Don +Diego," she sighed.</p> + +<p>In a minute or two Don Diego came in, and with him the scent of musk. +He was very punctilious in his manner towards Sir Nicholas, and while +the two men spoke together his mother lay back in her chair watching +them with her omniscient smile.</p> + +<p>"You will see the Chevalier at your ball, my son," she said. "My dear +Chevalier, how remiss I am! I did not tell you that it is in my son's +honour. His anniversary. I forget which, but no doubt he will tell you."</p> + +<p>"It can be of no interest to the Chevalier, señora," said Don Diego, +annoyed.</p> + +<p>"I shall hope to have the felicity of meeting your niece, madame," said +Beauvallet. "Or perhaps she does not go into public yet?"</p> + +<p>Don Diego looked cross; Doña Beatrice continued to fan herself. "She +will be present," she said placidly.</p> + +<p>It struck Beauvallet that both father and son looked sharply at her, +but she gave no sign. He rose to take his leave, kissed her hand, and +was ushered forth.</p> + +<p>When the door had closed behind him Don Diego gave a pettish shrug of +the shoulder, and flung over to the window. "Why must you invite him +for Friday?" he asked. "Are you so enamoured of him? He walks abroad +as though he had bought Madrid."</p> + +<p>"I thought he might amuse me," his mother replied. "A very personable +man. It is most entertaining to see you at such a disadvantage, my son."</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez expostulated at this. "My love, how can you say so? Diego +is a proper caballero—the properest in Madrid, I dare swear. His air, +his carriage——"</p> + +<p>"Very exquisite, señor. I have never seen him otherwise, and I fear I +never shall."</p> + +<p>"I do not profess to understand what you would be at, señora," said Don +Diego, with a half-laugh.</p> + +<p>She got up out of her chair. "How should you? You should live in a +painting, Diego; a painting of soft lines and graceful attitudes. +I doubt the Chevalier would never stay still in it." She went out, +chuckling to herself.</p> + +<p>Father and son looked at each other. "Your mother has a—has an odd +twist in her humour," said Don Rodriguez weakly.</p> + +<p>"My mother, señor," said Don Diego tartly, "likes to be thought +enigmatic. She said that Dominica would be present, but will she?" He +opened the little comfit box that he carried, and put a sweetmeat into +his mouth. "If she consents it will be for the first time."</p> + +<p>"Leave her to your mother. She—she is a very remarkable woman, Diego."</p> + +<p>"Likewise is my cousin a very remarkable self-willed chit," said Don +Diego. He licked his fingers and shut up the box. "She is as cold as +ice," he said impatiently. "Bewitched. A scornful piece that wants +schooling."</p> + +<p>"Bethink you, it is very soon after Don Manuel's death for her to be +thinking of bridals," Don Rodriguez said excusingly. "You would maybe +do well to deal gently."</p> + +<p>"Do I not deal gently?" The sneer was clearly marked now. "And while I +stay supplicating she but grows the colder, and every caballero in the +town is eager to hazard his luck. She is like to be off with another if +this continues. Or her uncle de Tobar will take a hand in the game, and +try to get her for that overgrown fool, Miguel. Oh yes, she hinted she +might write to him! A vixen!"</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez murmured a vague expostulation. "I don't think it, I +don't think it. She has no mind to wed yet, and your mother hath an eye +to her. Belike you do not go well to work with her."</p> + +<p>"I will use her more hardly if this coldness endures," said Don Diego. +His eyes glinted, and Don Rodriguez looked away.</p> + +<p>"Leave it to your mother," he advised feebly. "It is early yet to +despair."</p> + +<p>There was some excuse for Don Diego's ill-humour. He had a very pretty +cousin, heiress to great wealth, marked clearly by heaven to be a +bride for him, and the devil was in it that the girl must needs flout +him. Such a thing had never happened to him before. He was at first +incredulous, then sullen.</p> + +<p>As for Dominica, there was a good reason for her refusal to fall in +with the wishes of her family, had they but known it. How should a maid +think of Diego who had lain trembling in Beauvallet's arms?</p> + +<p>Since those mad days at sea much had happened in her life. She found +herself bewildered, undaunted, certainly, but wary. Her father came +home only to die, and he left her in the ward of his sister Beatrice. +She discovered that she was wealthy, mistress of large estates in the +south: a rare matrimonial prize, in effect. She was gathered under her +aunt's ample wing, and knew not what to make of that lady.</p> + +<p>There was no gainsaying Doña Beatrice's kindness, but there was more to +her than mere indolent good humour. Dominica had not been long under +her roof before she discovered that her uncle, even her cousin too, +were puppets, whose strings were pulled by Doña Beatrice. She suspected +that she also was to be a puppet, and lifted her chin at the thought. +Doña Dominica, accustomed for many years to be mistress, did not take +kindly to a subordinate position, nor could she stomach the strict +rule under which well-born maidens lived in Spain. She let it be seen +that she had a will of her own, and tossed up her head to face wrath. +None came; no one had ever seen Doña Beatrice put out. She blinked her +sleepy eyelids, and continued to smile. "Charming, my dear, charming! +It suits you admirably," she said.</p> + +<p>Nonplussed, Dominica stammered: "What suits me, aunt?"</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice made a little gesture with her fan. "This display of +spirit, my dear. But it is wasted, quite wasted. Show my poor son these +flashing looks: I am much too old to be moved, and far too lazy."</p> + +<p>Dominica, aware even then of the family's designs, chose to come into +the open. "Señora, if you mean me for my cousin's bride, I think it +only fair to tell you that I will have none of him, so please you."</p> + +<p>"Of course I mean you for his bride," her aunt said calmly. "My dear, +pray sit down. You fatigue me sadly."</p> + +<p>"I had guessed it!" Dominica said indignantly.</p> + +<p>"It was not very difficult to guess," said Doña Beatrice. "But we shall +not talk of bridals yet. Decency must be observed. I have often thought +how absurd is this to do we make over death, but it is the way of the +world, and I never go against custom."</p> + +<p>"Señora—I do not like my cousin enough!"</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice was not at all disturbed. "No, my love, I had not +supposed you did. I find him very lamentable myself, and I bore him. +But what has that to do with marriage? Do not make that singular error +of confusing liking with marriage. It has nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p>"I choose to think it has, aunt. I could not marry where I did not +love."</p> + +<p>Her aunt yawned behind her fan; she looked amused, tolerant. "Be +advised by me, my dear, and be rid of such notions. Marry for +convenience and love at discretion. I assure you, these things smoothe +themselves when one is married. As a maid you are bound to be prim. It +is all very different when you are comfortably established."</p> + +<p>Dominica stared, and could not forbear a giggle. "Do you advise me to +wed my cousin, señora, for the sake of taking a lover afterwards?" she +asked, half-shocked, half-entertained.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, child, if you wish. Only pray use discretion. Scandal is +very odious, and there is never the least need to incur it if you +observe care in these little affairs. You have only to look at me."</p> + +<p>Dominica did look at her, almost aghast. "Aunt!"</p> + +<p>"What is it now?" inquired Doña Beatrice, lifting her eyes for a +moment. "You did not suppose that I married your uncle for love, did +you?"</p> + +<p>Dominica felt herself to be young and foolish, at a disadvantage. "I +did not know, señora, but for myself I do not mean to wed my cousin. He +is—he is—in short, señora, I do not care for him."</p> + +<p>Her aunt only looked at her with the tolerant amusement she found so +galling, and would say no more.</p> + +<p>But the matter was not to be so easily allowed to slide. Don Diego's +attentions became more marked; he was impervious to rebuffs, just as +his mother was impervious to argument. Dominica felt Beauvallet's +signet ring lying snug in her bosom, and turned a shoulder on Don +Diego's advances.</p> + +<p>She would look at the ring sometimes when she was alone and remember +how it had been given to her, and what words had gone with it. She had +been induced to believe then, under the influence of that dominant +personality. Even now when she conjured up Beauvallet's image before +her mind's eye, and saw again his laughing face, and the turn of his +dark head, a little of that belief would come stealing back to her. It +could not long endure. There, upon the high seas, anything had seemed +possible; here in grave Spain it was as though that swift romance had +only existed in her imagination. She had only a ring to remind her of +its reality; if her heart still cherished its secret hope, her brain +rejected it, and knew Beauvallet's coming to be an impossibility.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he had forgotten; perhaps he was even now teasing some English +lady in the way he had used to her. Yet he had said: "I shall not +forget," and he had not been jesting then.</p> + +<p>She wondered what her aunt would say if she knew but the half of it. +Anyone else, Dominica thought, would be horrified, but she could not +imagine Doña Beatrice roused to so strenuous an emotion. Probably she +would laugh at the romance; she who had had lovers enough in her day +might even sympathise with her niece, but it was very certain that she +would not see in the brief idyll a bar to marriage with Diego.</p> + +<p>Dominica had been careful from the outset to hide that piece of the +past from her aunt. She showed an admirable indifference to Beauvallet, +knowing that such an attitude would be the least suspicious. She said +that she thought his powers overrated: he was nothing beyond the +ordinary, to be sure. It was not caution made her so reticent, for she +could not think that she would ever see Sir Nicholas again, but she had +a dread of letting her aunt into her confidence. Doña Beatrice was like +a snail, she thought, trailing a sticky poison in her wake. What she +touched she soiled; all virtue was made to seem a little foolish; all +vice was merely smiled upon.</p> + +<p>She shocked her niece from the first, most of all upon the question of +religion. When it appeared that Dominica went too seldom to Mass Doña +Beatrice spoke of the omission, and told the girl that it would be wise +to attend regularly.</p> + +<p>Dominica, hardly knowing how she dared, perhaps stung by the placid +tone her aunt assumed, hinted at reformed notions. She was startled by +Doña Beatrice's attitude, startled, and certainly shocked.</p> + +<p>"I dare say, my dear," had said Doña Beatrice. "But it is most foolish +to brandish such ideas abroad. You may be as heretical as you please to +yourself, but pray do not let Frey Pedro get wind of it. Talk such as +this leads to an unpleasant sequel. Respect the forms of religion, I do +beseech you."</p> + +<p>This, from a seemingly devout Catholic! Dominica had expected censure, +had steeled herself to meet denunciation. But a calm recommendation +to her to play the hypocrite seemed to her depraved beyond words. She +looked indignantly at Doña Beatrice, but ended in obeying her.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>When she first heard of the projected ball to be given in honour of Don +Diego's birthday Dominica pleaded her mourning state, and said that +she could not be present. She had a suspicion that this ball, surely +unsuitable for a man's anniversary, was planned to lure her from her +fastness. Maybe it was to serve as a prologue to her betrothal. She +would not be present.</p> + +<p>This decision drew a sigh from Doña Beatrice. "My dear, you are very +teasing," she complained. "In Spain girls do not say I will, and I will +not to those set in authority over them. Do me the favour to give way +with a good grace."</p> + +<p>"You cannot think it seemly, señora, for me to be dancing so soon after +my father's death."</p> + +<p>"I do not think it at all seemly for you to stay moping in your +chamber," replied Doña Beatrice. "We will set all in train to have a +new gown made for you. There is naught so enlivening to the spirits as +a new gown, believe me. But I do not think you should wear colours yet. +A cut velvet might do very well."</p> + +<p>"I do not mean to be present," repeated Dominica.</p> + +<p>"Or a pure white taffeta," mused Doña Beatrice. "We must consider it."</p> + +<p>"Aunt!"</p> + +<p>"Well, child? Oh, are you still tilting your chin at me? I take it very +unkindly in you then. Oblige me by being present on this one occasion, +and let us say no more about it."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry that you think me unreasonable, señora," Dominica said +stiffly. "But if I obey you in this, you will expect me to obey you +in—other things."</p> + +<p>"Marriage," nodded her aunt. "It makes no odds, my dear. Whether you +come to the ball or not I am still desirous to see you wed. You cannot +suppose that the care of a niece is at all pleasing to one of my +indolence."</p> + +<p>"Show me, then, another suitor!" flashed Dominica.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice picked up her fan. "Now I had thought you cleverer than +that," she said. "How should we benefit by another suitor for you?"</p> + +<p>The brown eyes looked sternly. "In a word, aunt, you covet my +possessions. And so we have the truth at last!"</p> + +<p>"Naturally, child. What did you suppose?" said Doña Beatrice, +unruffled. "We find ourselves in deplorably straitened circumstances, +and you come as a gift from heaven, one would say."</p> + +<p>Dominica looked round at the opulence of the room. "One does not +immediately perceive your poverty, señora."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," said Doña Beatrice. "We all maintain a good +appearance. But show me the man who is not impoverished to-day for all +his outward pomp!"</p> + +<p>"I think," said Dominica forcibly, "that Spain is a hateful country, +and the people—corrupt!"</p> + +<p>"Very corrupt," agreed Doña Beatrice. "An age of loose-living. I +remember when I was a girl a Spanish lady was the model of decorum. It +is all very different now, and much more amusing. I believe that we +become a byword."</p> + +<p>"I wonder, señora, that you are content to be so!"</p> + +<p>"To be a byword? What odds? As for our corruption, what would you, +when the King keeps his grandees away from the affairs of state, and +encourages them to waste their substance?" She shrugged. "I observe, +and I am content to smile."</p> + +<p>"So it seems," said Dominica. "Yet you can leave smiling to lend +yourself to an odious scheme to marry me to my cousin. Well, I will not +wed him. Never! You will see, señora, that I mean what I say."</p> + +<p>"I don't doubt it, my dear. You are a very charming girl, and you have +wit—a little. But when you put your wit against mine you must lose."</p> + +<p>"When you find, señora, that my wits have won the day——"</p> + +<p>Her aunt rose. "I shall have a lively respect for you, my dear. Cut +velvet and your pearls. I will see to it."</p> + +<p>Well, in the end Dominica gave way, and not quite from a sense of +duty. Her aunt's attitude had given her pause; that placid, smiling +dame frightened her: there was no gainsaying it. She guessed that +she was required to appear in public to give the lie to a world that +might possibly be saying that the Carvalhos kept her cooped up against +her will. There was her uncle on the mother's side, one Miguel de +Tobar, who had two likely sons of his own, and might conceivably have +designs upon her himself. One suitor was as distasteful as the other, +but it might serve to play off Tobar against the Carvalhos, Dominica +thought. She began to scheme and ponder, weaving her toils. She was +afraid of Doña Beatrice, ay, but she would fight her for all that, and +find joy in it. She put a finger to her lips, bit the rosy tip, and +looked this way and that, frowning at fate. Policy dictated an end +to her seclusion. She must go out into the world, and nose about for +a deliverer. Tobar would serve to alarm the Carvalhos; she had very +little intention of carrying it further than that. She had had letters +from him, guarded enough, to be sure, but sufficiently plain in their +purport to tell her that she might call on him and find a ready answer.</p> + +<p>An end to this moping, then. She got up briskly, with a little toss of +the head, as though she would be free of a curbing rein. She would go +to this ball, but dance she would not. She would wear what was put out +for her to wear, and show herself a martyr to tyranny.</p> + +<p>But velvets and love-knots, pearl-sewn lace, and the fashioning of a +corsage must necessarily interest a young lady, and when tailors were +busy she abandoned the attitude of martyr and asserted herself. She +would have the neck cut so, and the kirtle of such a silk, and there +should be crystals sewn on her ruff. She harried the tailors, and sent +her maid—not Maria, now, who had left her to marry a hopeful young +groom, but an older woman, sour-faced and silent—bustling to find a +certain point-lace that was laid by.</p> + +<p>When the day came she was secretly glad that she was to be at the ball. +A maid cannot weep for ever, and to say truth, she was heartily sick of +her seclusion. The new gown pleased her; her pearls looked remarkably +well about her slim neck, and her hair under its silver net was dressed +to her satisfaction. It was a pity her cheeks were so pale, but she +would have none of her aunt's rouge-paste. Let the whispering world see +her pale and wan, and draw what conclusions it liked. Nor would she by +any means carry a very pretty fan of pink feathers, sent to her with +her cousin's compliments.</p> + +<p>"This trifle," says my lady, mighty haughty, "this fan, which pleases +me not at all, you may have, if you like, Carmelita. I do not want it."</p> + +<p>"Señorita, it is the fan Don Diego gave you," old Carmelita reminded +her.</p> + +<p>"Is it so?" Dominica held it up and turned it this way and that. "I do +not like it. Take it if you will, or give it to your niece." She tossed +it aside, and would have no more to do with it.</p> + +<p>She went downstairs presently, a snow-maiden, trying to look sadly +martyred. She found her aunt in the great hall, with Don Rodriguez at +her side.</p> + +<p>He was ready to take Dominica's hand and fondle it. He could never be +at ease in her presence. Her large eyes looked too straightly, nor +would she ever give him any help. She thought him a poor creature, and +despised him accordingly. If he were to play the villain, then a' God's +name let him play it boldly, and put a brave face on to it! A villain +who was yet a man would not infuriate her near so much as this man who +was a villain against his kinder nature.</p> + +<p>He complimented her now, and said that he was glad indeed to see her +amongst them, and looking so beautiful.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice, almost overpowering in apple-green silk, with pink +embroideries, and an ornate headdress, looked her over critically. +"Yes, you are very well," she said. "We shall have serenades beneath +your window, I suppose."</p> + +<p>One could not be proof against such flattery. Dominica dropped a +demure curtsy, and said she was glad she pleased her good aunt.</p> + +<p>There came an interruption to drive the dawning smile out of her eyes. +Don Diego came into the hall from the ballroom, and bowed with great +flourish.</p> + +<p>Dominica looked at him with warm indignation in her face. Whether of +intent or not, and she was very sure that it was of intent, he had +chosen to array himself in white to match her. He wore pearl-coloured +Venetian hose, embroidered cunningly with pale pink and a paned doublet +to go with them. His points had silver aiglets; his ruff was stitched +with silver, and was so large that it looked like a dish through which +he had stuck his head. He had a rapier with a jewelled hilt at his +side, a single ruby drop in one ear, and he carried a pure white rose +in his hand.</p> + +<p>Dominica looked him up and down, and gave the tiniest of sniffs. Her +aunt's soft laugh sounded behind her. "What a pretty caballero!" said +Doña Beatrice. "Where, oh where could one find a prettier?"</p> + +<p>Don Diego chose to ignore this tribute. He came up to Dominica with +the smile she so much disliked, and kissed her hand. "Fairest cousin! +I salute you! In my honour, this ball? Nay, rather in yours, the +loveliest lady in Spain." He released her hand, and held out his rose. +"A white rose to match you, sweet cousin."</p> + +<p>"I should be loth to deprive you of it, cousin."</p> + +<p>He came closer. "Only give it me again when the ball is ended. I shall +wear it next my heart then. Let me pin it on your bosom. Roses should +bloom together."</p> + +<p>She drew her skirts away. "Keep your rose, cousin. You tease me to no +purpose."</p> + +<p>He lowered his voice. "Still so cruel? Still so cold? You who set +hearts flaming!"</p> + +<p>"God send a shower to quench them," she said, and moved away to her +aunt's side.</p> + +<p>She stayed there for a long hour while guests arrived and were +announced. All were strangers to her; she had to be presented again +and again. To her annoyance Don Diego stood upon her other side. It +must look as though they were betrothed already, she thought, and was +careful never to turn in his direction.</p> + +<p>The hall became crowded; already they were dancing in the ballroom +beyond. Dominica's foot tapped the floor involuntarily. Diego saw it, +and came possessively close. "Dare I hope for the honour of leading you +out, sweet cousin?" he murmured.</p> + +<p>"I hope you dare not," she answered smartly. "I do not dance to-night." +She made a movement as though to bid him stand further off. "Pray go +and lead out some other lady," she said.</p> + +<p>Above the sound of the rebecks, above the subdued chatter of guests +gathered in the hall, sounded the steward's voice. There was a stir at +the door. "M. le Chevalier de Guise!" called the steward, and bowed in +this late arrival.</p> + +<p>Dominica looked towards the door, wondering who the Frenchman might be. +A knot of gentlemen gathered there parted to let the newcomer pass. +There was a quick, decided step; no Frenchman came in, but Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet, as though upon his own quarterdeck.</p> + +<p>Dominica almost let fall her fan; the breath caught in her throat; she +stood staring, first pale, and then red, and through the mad riot in +her brain ran only the one clear thought: He has come! He has come! He +has come!</p> + +<p>Across the hall he came, with that graceful, careless step she knew so +well. He was brave in silk and velvet, with a neat, small ruff such +as he had always worn clipping his throat about. He had a hand laid +lightly on his sword-hilt, and his eyes looked straight at Dominica. +She saw them fearless, with a kind of mocking challenge in their blue +depths, as though they would signify "Well, did I not say that I would +come?" Everything in her responded to the daring of him. Ah, what a +man! Ah, what a lover for a girl! what a brave, laughing lover!</p> + +<p>He was close now, bowing to her aunt.</p> + +<p>"Ah, so you have come, Chevalier," said Doña Beatrice, giving him her +hand. "We shall talk a little, but later on. Let me present you to +my niece, Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva. This gentleman, my dear, is +a Frenchman strayed by some good chance into Spain. The Chevalier de +Guise."</p> + +<p>Dominica, still hardly daring to trust her eyes, saw his hand held out, +and knew his gaze to be upon her. She put out her own little hand, and +his long fingers closed over it. She looked down at his black head +as he bent to kiss her hand; she thought if she spoke her voice must +betray her agitation.</p> + +<p>It was a real kiss pressed on her hand, no formal brush of the lips. +He stood straight again, and released her slight fingers. "Señorita, I +am enchanted," he said. "But Doña Beatrice is wrong: I did not come by +chance into Spain. I had a set resolve to journey here."</p> + +<p>Her long lashes fluttered downwards. She knew herself to be blushing. +"Indeed, señor?" she said faintly.</p> + +<p>"Such an odd resolve!" commented Doña Beatrice. "What can you hope to +find here to amuse you?"</p> + +<p>Dominica looked up to see his eyes crinkle at the corners. He addressed +himself to Doña Beatrice, laughingly. "Oh, I come on a quest, dear +señora," he said. Then he seemed to become aware of Don Diego, upon +Dominica's other hand. "Well-met, señor! I give you joy of your +anniversary." The mockery in his eyes deepened. "But you are bridal, +señor! bridal!"</p> + +<p>Don Diego stiffened, but a moment after shrugged slightly at this +deplorable lack of formality. "My attire does not like you, Chevalier?" +he said disdainfully.</p> + +<p>"On the contrary," said Sir Nicholas gaily, "it reminds me of my own +nuptials, which draw close."</p> + +<p>Dominica's hand, slowly waving her fan to and fro, faltered a little. +What a game to play with fire! Oh, he was mad indeed, divinely mad!</p> + +<p>"I felicitate you," said Don Diego. "Permit me to find you a partner +for the <i>coranto</i>."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas turned. "I shall crave the hand of Doña Dominica," he said.</p> + +<p>Don Diego spoke before she could reply. "My cousin does not dance, +señor."</p> + +<p>"How foolish!" said Doña Beatrice, turning her head. "Let the Chevalier +lead you out, my dear. There are no men to rival Frenchmen at dancing."</p> + +<p>"If you will dance, cousin, let mine be the honour of leading you out," +said Don Diego.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas had taken her hand; the pressure of his fingers was +insistent. "Ah, but I was before you, Don Diego," he said.</p> + +<p>Don Diego looked angrily, and took a quick step forward, as though he +would snatch Dominica's hand from its resting-place. His rose dropped +unheeded to the ground. "Cousin, I understood you would not dance!"</p> + +<p>"You have let fall your pretty flower," Sir Nicholas pointed out gently.</p> + +<p>Don Diego turned with an ugly look in his face, forgetting his duty to +a guest. His angry stare met an amused glance from cool blue eyes that +did not waver. Sir Nicholas still held Dominica's hand, but one eyebrow +was quizzically raised, as though to say: "Do you wish to quarrel? Say +but the word!"</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice interposed to put an end to an awkward moment. Her fan +brushed Dominica's shoulder. "Be advised by me, my dear, and go with +the Chevalier. Resolutions are made to be broken only."</p> + +<p>Don Diego seemed to recollect himself. He recovered his <i>sosiego</i> and +bowed. "I am less fortunate than the Chevalier, cousin. I shall ask for +your hand later in the evening."</p> + +<p>"As you please, cousin." Dominica sent a fleeting glance upwards to +Beauvallet's face, and dropped her eyes again. Obedient to the pull on +her hand she went with him across the hall to the ballroom.</p> + +<p>"God pity me, I have borne a fool!" sighed Doña Beatrice. "You do not +go well to work, my poor son."</p> + +<p>"She did it to flout me!" he said hotly.</p> + +<p>"If she did it promises very well," she replied. "But when a man like +the Chevalier craves a boon there are few women will not grant it. For +where he craves he might take, look you."</p> + +<p>"He is insufferable!" Diego said. "My sword itches to taste his blood."</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice smiled more broadly. "I dare say the Chevalier has some +skill with swords," she said. "I do not think—no, I do not think that +you would be well advised to send him a challenge."</p> + +<p>Don Diego stayed glooming a moment. "One would think you wanted her to +go with him," he complained.</p> + +<p>"I did," said his mother imperturbably. "The girl saw a very personable +man, with more charm in his lightest smile, my poor son, than any other +here to-night. She was tempted to be forsworn, and I bade her go. Had I +intervened for you she would not have danced at all. Now you are sure +of her, for she cannot refuse, having danced once."</p> + +<p>In the ballroom Dominica had little opportunity to speak to Sir +Nicholas. She dreaded lest some overheard phrase might betray him; for +the first few steps of the dance she could only look up eloquently into +his face. They drew together a moment, and she whispered:—"You have +come! How could you dare?"</p> + +<p>"Had you not my word, little doubter?"</p> + +<p>They drew apart again; another couple was too close to allow them to +say more. The music stopped; Sir Nicholas was bowing, and Don Diego was +possessively at Dominica's elbow.</p> + +<p>She lived through another hour in a fret. Don Diego stayed close at +her side; she could only watch Beauvallet across the room, and long +to be alone with him. It seemed she would never find the opportunity, +but presently her cousin's attention was claimed, and he had to lead +another lady out to dance. Dominica cast a quick look round, saw her +aunt at the other end of the room, and drew back behind the ample form +of a portly dowager. She slipped along the wall then to where heavy +curtains hung, shutting off a small ante-chamber. Knowing Beauvallet's +eyes to be upon her she went through, and stood breathlessly waiting.</p> + +<p>The curtains moved; he was before her. She went to him in a little run, +with both her hands held out, and her eyes full of happy tears. "Oh, to +see you again!" she whispered. "I never thought it possible!"</p> + +<p>He gathered her hands in his, and held them clasped against his breast. +"Softly, my heart! This is dangerous work." His voice was quick and +decisive for all he spoke so low. "I must have speech with you alone. +Which way looks your chamber?"</p> + +<p>"To the garden. Ah, Nicholas, I have wanted you!"</p> + +<p>"My fondling!" His hands pressed hers closer. "Does your woman sleep +with you?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I am alone." She looked wonderingly up at him.</p> + +<p>"Set a lamp in your window when you judge all to be asleep, to give me +a sign. Can you trust me?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, you know! You know I can trust only you. What will you do?"</p> + +<p>"Climb up to you, sweetheart," he answered, and smiled at her face of +amazement. "What windows look out that way?"</p> + +<p>"My woman's—my cousin's closet—some servants."</p> + +<p>"Good." He kissed her hands. "Expect me then when you show a light. +Patience, my bird!"</p> + +<p>He released her, and stepped back. The curtains parted for a moment, +and he was gone.</p> + +<p>The rest of the evening passed in a bewildered haze for her. She was +conscious only of Beauvallet's presence, but he did not come near her +again. Her cousin besought her to dance with him again, and when she +would not, stayed by her, teasing her ear with his soft speech.</p> + +<p>"Who was the Frenchman?" she asked. "The Chevalier. Is he of the +Ambassador's court?"</p> + +<p>"De Guise! No, my dear cousin, the Ambassador owns him not. Some idle +traveller swaggering abroad. I trust he will soon be gone from us. It +was no wish of mine that he should be invited here to-night. A trifler, +no more."</p> + +<p>"You do not like him, cousin?" she said, looking sideways.</p> + +<p>He raised those expressive shoulders. "An arrogant Frenchman who bears +himself as though he would snap his fingers in one's face! No, I do not +like him, cousin."</p> + +<p>A gleam of mischief shot into her eyes. "It is to be hoped he will not +snap his fingers in your face, cousin," she said demurely.</p> + +<p>"I should have but one answer, Dominica." He touched his sword-hilt. "I +do not think the gay Chevalier would return to France."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>It seemed an age before the house was quiet, and all lights put out. +Dominica sent her sleepy tirewoman away as soon as she came up from the +ball. The woman made little resistance, she could hardly keep her eyes +open, and was glad to be sent back to bed. Dominica let her unlace her +gown, and put away her jewels. She put on a loose wrapper, and laid +another log on the fire. As ill-luck would have it her aunt came in to +bid her good-night, and stayed to talk over the ball. She professed +herself thankful that the affair was over; it had been very dull, she +thought, and the Chevalier de Guise was the only relief she had had +from utter boredom. Dominica, very much on her guard, stifled a yawn, +and allowed the Chevalier to be well enough.</p> + +<p>"Do not lose your heart to him, my dear," remarked her aunt lazily. +"Frenchmen are sadly fickle, and I believe this one is betrothed +already."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so he said," Dominica answered. An imp of malice prompted her to +add:—"So my cousin need not be jealous of him, señora."</p> + +<p>"Diego is too much in love with you to forbear jealousy of any man who +looks twice at you," said Doña Beatrice, a hint of cynicism in her +voice.</p> + +<p>"Or is he in love with my money?" asked Dominica sweetly.</p> + +<p>"Very much, my dear. We all are." Nothing, it seemed, could disturb +Doña Beatrice's composure. She got up out of her chair, and tapped +her niece's cheek. "No more of this seclusion, child. You will show +yourself abroad a little, and remember that we shall soon leave this +tiresome town for a little quiet and peace."</p> + +<p>Dominica's eyes were cast down, but the breath was stayed in her +throat. "Very well, señora," she said submissively. "But do we leave +Madrid indeed?"</p> + +<p>"Shortly, my dear. We shall go north to Vasconosa as soon as may be, +and we will hope that Diego in the country will like you better than +Diego in town."</p> + +<p>Dominica dropped a curtsy. "I don't think it, señora."</p> + +<p>"No? But you can try to, my dear." Doña Beatrice went out with her slow +tread, and a minute later a door shut in the distance.</p> + +<p>Dominica sat down by the fire to wait. Presently she heard her aunt's +tirewoman pass by her door to the stairs that led to the servants' +quarters above. Don Rodriguez, coming up from downstairs, called a +good-night to his son, and went into his room. But Don Diego must needs +go into his closet, and stay there for what seemed an interminable time +to his impatient cousin. At length he came out, and went across the +hall to his bedchamber. Dominica heard him speak sharply to his man, +and shut the door with a snap. There was silence for a while, and then +the same door opened and shut again: his servant had put Don Diego to +bed at last.</p> + +<p>The man's footsteps died away on the stairs, and silence settled down +on the house. Still Dominica waited, counting the slow minutes. She +went presently to her door, and softly opened it. All was dark in the +passage. Holding her gown close about her that no rustle might betray +her presence she stole down the short corridor to the upper hall. A +bar of light beneath one of the doors showed that Don Diego was still +awake. Dominica stayed where she was, motionless against the wall. In a +few minutes the light disappeared. She crept back to her chamber, put +more wood upon the fire, and went to arrange her curls in the mirror. +When she judged that Don Diego had had time to fall asleep she went out +again into the passage, and this time took the precaution of listening +at her tirewoman's door. She heard a snore, and was satisfied, +knowing how very hard to wake was Carmelita. Flitting silently in her +stockinged feet she reached the hall, went ghost-like to three doors, +and at each listened intently. She must be sure, very sure, that the +whole house slept before she signalled to Beauvallet, for he came to +certain death if he should be discovered.</p> + +<p>No sound reached her straining ears; she crept back to her room, +stealthily shut the door, and little by little turned the key in +the lock. It went home with a click that seemed to din through the +stillness. She stayed, breathing fast, her ear to the crack. No +answering stir sounded; nothing but the grating of a mouse nibbling at +the wainscoting somewhere down the passage.</p> + +<p>She left the door then, and went to the window, and parted the heavy +curtains that hung over it. Holding her lamp in her hand she stepped +out on to the little semi-circular balcony.</p> + +<p>Moonlight flooded the garden below, and the trees cast ink-black +shadows on the ground. From out the shadow a shadow moved; she saw +Beauvallet cross the garden, and raised her free hand in a little +welcoming sign. He was beneath her balcony now; she had to lean over +to see him. How he would contrive to climb up she did not know, but +that he would manage it somehow she was very sure.</p> + +<p>He made surprisingly little work over it. A climbing rose gave him his +foothold. He came up swiftly and silently, braced a foot against the +iron pipe that ran down the side of the house from the rain-gutter, +seemed to measure the distance with his eye, and threw himself forward.</p> + +<p>Dominica stretched out her hand involuntarily to help him, but he +caught the rail of the balcony, and the next instant had swung a leg +over it, and was beside her.</p> + +<p>Neither spoke a word. Sir Nicholas had an arm about Dominica's waist, +and led her into the room, his other hand laid lightly across her +parted lips. She set the lamp down on the table while he closed the +long windows and drew the curtains over them.</p> + +<p>He turned, a moment looked at her, and opened his arms. Dominica went +into them in a little run, and felt them close tightly about her.</p> + +<p>"My heart! My dove!"</p> + +<p>She could only say: "You have come! You have come! It is you, really +you!"</p> + +<p>"Had you not my word?"</p> + +<p>"How could I believe? How could I think that you would dare—even you? +Oh, <i>querida</i>, why have you come?" Her hands tugged at his shoulders, +"There's death lurking in every corner for you!"</p> + +<p>"I have played many games with Death, fondling, but the dice always +fell my way. Trust me."</p> + +<p>"Mad!" she whispered. "Mad Nicholas!"</p> + +<p>He kissed her. For a while she was content to lie in his arms, but +presently she said on a sigh: "Folly, oh folly! I have brought you to +your death!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, I came of mine own free will, as I swore I would—to make an +Englishwoman of you." He made her look up. "How now, my heart? Will you +go with Mad Nicholas?"</p> + +<p>She tried to hide her face. "It is not possible. You know it is not. +God knows how you are here, but you must go quickly, quickly! You could +never escape with me to burden you."</p> + +<p>"Give me a plain answer, fondling. Will you go with me?"</p> + +<p>She evaded him. "I have been so unhappy," she said pitifully.</p> + +<p>"You shall never be so again, I swear." He held her away from him. +"Will you trust me further yet? Will you put your life in my hands?"</p> + +<p>She looked up into his eyes, her own troubled and questioning. He had +taken her by storm; he was a lover from a fairy-tale, and she had +longed for him, and dreamed of him, but now that he spoke so urgently, +and looked so keenly, she realized all that it would mean to her if she +gave herself to him. He was a stranger and an Englishman, and if he won +out of Spain a strange land and a strange people awaited her. She loved +him, but how little she knew of him! A girl's fears shook her; she +looked searchingly, peering for the future, and the colour ebbed in her +cheeks. He awaited her answer; she thought how bright his eyes were, +how compelling.</p> + +<p>"Nicholas—you could not understand," she faltered. "I am so alone. I +do not know——"</p> + +<p>"I do understand," he answered instantly. "I love you. Trust me!"</p> + +<p>Her fingers sought his. "You will be good to me?" she said in a small +voice.</p> + +<p>He smiled. "I will never beat you," he promised.</p> + +<p>At that she smiled too, but fleetingly. "Nay, do not jest, do not laugh +at me!" she said.</p> + +<p>He raised her hands to his lips, and kissed them. "On my soul," he +said, "I've only the one ambition left; to care for you."</p> + +<p>She nestled back into his arms. "If we could! If we only could!"</p> + +<p>"What, doubting still?" he rallied her. "What do you fear, little faint +heart?"</p> + +<p>"To lead you to your death," she said. "How can I not fear it?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, 'tis I shall do the leading," he smiled. "Have faith, O Lady +Disdain!"</p> + +<p>"Not that!" she protested, but a smile trembled on her lips at the old +memories the name conjured up.</p> + +<p>His arm was hard about her shoulders. "Do you love me?" he asked, and +his eyes compelled an answer from her.</p> + +<p>She looked up. "Do you not know that I do—doubter?"</p> + +<p>He swooped then, and kissed her almost before she was aware. +Holding her close still he asked her with the teasing note in his +voice:—"Shall I make an Englishwoman of you after all, my bird?"</p> + +<p>She nodded. "Only take me away," she said. "Take me away from here! +Anywhere!"</p> + +<p>For a moment he held her closely embraced, cheek to cheek. Then he let +her go, brought her to the fire, and made her sit down on the faldstool +before it. He stirred the smouldering log with his booted foot, and it +fell apart, and the flames sprang up. "Do they seek to wed you to that +pretty cousin of yours?" he asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>"I hate him!" she said. "I have told my aunt I will never, never wed +with him, but she—Nicholas, you do not know her! She smiles, and nods, +and agrees with me, but she is like a rock! She frightens me, Nicholas. +She is so quiet, and it is like a fate pursuing one! Yes, I am afraid, +I!"</p> + +<p>"No need," he said. "Remember I am near you, and take heart. Now how to +spirit you away?"</p> + +<p>"How did you come?" she asked. "In the <i>Venture</i>—that fishing village?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, over the border, openly, with letters to King Philip," he replied.</p> + +<p>She gasped. "Are you a wizard, then? Tell me, how?"</p> + +<p>"Very simply, child. My luck, no more. I fell in with a secret envoy to +the King, and him I slew perforce, and came on in his place. But to get +you to the coast is the problem now. It is a-many weary leagues, and +the hunt will be up then in right earnest. Barful, barful!"</p> + +<p>She sat straight on the faldstool. "Nay, but listen, Señor Nicholas! We +leave Madrid soon now—I do not know when, but soon. Doña Beatrice told +me so to-night, and hoped I might like Diego better in the country than +I do here. We go north, to Vasconosa, near Burgos. I do not know when, +but Doña Beatrice would wish it to be soon."</p> + +<p>"God 'ild her, then! What keeps her?"</p> + +<p>"Diego, I think. Oh no, she does not care for him, but of what use +to take me into the country if he be not by? And he hath engagements +still, and will not go till they are done."</p> + +<p>"Fiend seize the princox!" Beauvallet said. "North of Burgos? It will +serve, it will serve."</p> + +<p>She looked eagerly up at him. "It is not more than a day and a night +from the coast, but they will watch me close. Can you do it, Nicholas?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, surely, sweetheart. Have no fear. The <i>Venture</i> will lie off +that port you wot of, and if the luck holds we may make it safely." +He went to the window, and drew back the curtain a little way. "It is +growing light, child. I must be gone." He came back to her, and took +her hands. "Leave me to find a way, chuck. Only let me have a sight of +you, and a word with you at need. I lie at the Rising Sun if you should +want me, and Joshua is with me to bear a message. I have been about +this town a little, but in no house do I meet you. You lie close, love."</p> + +<p>"I would not go out. That's over now. I shall go with my aunt to Don +Alonso de Alepero's house on Monday. Will you be there?"</p> + +<p>"I can arrange it," he said. "Expect to see me in this house as soon as +may be. This aunt of yours seems to have a fondness for me." He bent, +and kissed her hands. "Now fare thee well, my heart, and fear naught."</p> + +<p>"Only for you," she said.</p> + +<p>"Fear for me when you hear of my death," he smiled. "Not till then." +He held her close a moment. "Keep Diego at arm's length, my lass," he +said, twinkling, "or I might be tempted to out sword and thrust him +there."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must be prudent!" she said urgently. "Promise me! He hates you +already; he said to-night almost as much."</p> + +<p>"God save his puppyhood!" said Sir Nicholas lightly. "Am I to be in a +sweat for fear of Master Puke-Stocking? We shall come to grips yet, he +and I. I can snuff out a fight with the best. He's hot for it." He bent +to kiss her lips. "A last good-night!"</p> + +<p>She gave it, clinging to him. "You must go—yes, you must go. Oh, my +love, I love you!"</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>It was not perhaps surprising that in so short a time the gay Chevalier +de Guise made some noise about the town. He had the trick of it. To +be secret, to lie close, seemed to be no part of his design. His +credentials were good, Losa's patronage carried him whithersoever +he listed, and he used it to the full. There was scarcely anyone in +Madrid who had not heard of the Chevalier, few who had not met him. +From the Court came no sign. Philip must ponder his reply, annotate the +despatch, sleep upon it, lay it aside to ponder it yet again. Those who +sought to hurry the Catholic King did so to their own despair. He would +do nothing without carefully weighing it; if his brain worked slowly he +at least was not aware of it. He was methodical, plodding, infinitely +conscientious, and he prided himself upon his cautious judgment.</p> + +<p>For Philip to be dilatory up to a point suited Sir Nicholas very well, +since, as he saw it, nothing could be done in his affair while Dominica +still lay at Madrid. If Philip delayed too long, however, he would have +to employ another messenger to carry his answer back to the Guise. Sir +Nicholas would be very well pleased to get that answer into his own +hands, for it promised to be interesting to an English Protestant. +Walsingham would be glad of it, but Sir Nicholas had no notion of +serving Master Secretary to his own plan's undoing. There was food +enough for Walsingham in the Guise's cyphered letter, a copy of which +was safe in Beauvallet's possession. It concerned one Mary Stewart, +unfortunate lady, at present a state prisoner in England, and certain +illuminating schemes for her future as compiled by his Majesty King +Philip, and the Duc de Guise. Fine doings there! Enough to make Master +Secretary's hair stand on end.</p> + +<p>For the rest Sir Nicholas went junketing about the town, and by the way +gleaned some useful information likely to interest not only Walsingham, +but Sir Francis Drake too, and not less the Lord Admiral, Howard of +Effingham. There was a fleet building in Cadiz harbour; Sir Nicholas +made copious mental notes of the size and strength of those tall +galleons, and even toyed with the notion of travelling south to see for +himself.</p> + +<p>His behaviour during this period provoked nervous qualms in Joshua +Dimmock, who declared himself to be a meacock creature, and shivered +from time to time. He had reason for his qualms, for he had good +cause to know that never was Beauvallet so reckless as when he played +with danger on every hand. "Master," said he, "is there never one who +suspects?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, the French Ambassador," Sir Nicholas answered. "One of his +satellites hath been set to question me—very cleverly, so he thought."</p> + +<p>"God's me! this is to undo all! And you said, master?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I gave him a bountiful answer, be sure," was all he could get from +Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>On Monday evening Dominica was to be seen at the Alepero house, off the +Calle Mayor. When Sir Nicholas could escape from the amiable clutches +of her aunt, he made his way to her side, ousted an admiring caballero +from his place of vantage there, and proceeded, to all appearances, to +pay his court to her.</p> + +<p>Don Diego, watchful in the background, was swift to interpose his +presence, but got little by that.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my bridal friend!" said Sir Nicholas, very urbane. "You are come +in a good hour, señor. Doña Beatrice is inquiring for you. You shall +not let us keep you."</p> + +<p>"My mother, señor?" said Don Diego, glaring his disbelief.</p> + +<p>"Your mother, my dear friend. You are loth to leave us, I perceive, and +I should be flattered but that I suspect the charms of this lady to be +the true cause." He bowed to Dominica.</p> + +<p>"I cannot suppose, señor, that my mother's need of me is urgent," said +Don Diego, colder still.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you underrate yourself," returned Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Don Diego looked furious, but did not see how he might remain. "I am +obliged to you, Chevalier," he said, mighty sarcastic. "I do not permit +myself to forget that you are a visitor to Spain." There was a good +deal of meaning to this. Dominica stirred uneasily, and shot a quick +look up at Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>The mobile eyebrow was up; Sir Nicholas waited. Don Diego met his +look for a moment, then bowed ceremoniously, and walked away. They +understood one another well enough: what the tongues were not permitted +to say the eyes said fully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, folly!" Dominica breathed. "Why anger him? To what purpose?"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was watching Don Diego go across the room. "I am certain +I shall not leave Spain until that paraquito and I have measured +swords," he said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Señor Nicholas, I do not think that I was ever afraid until I met +you," Dominica said. "Why will you do these things?"</p> + +<p>He looked down at her. "What, afraid for me? Let be, child; there's no +need."</p> + +<p>"You run on your fate!" she insisted.</p> + +<p>He laughed impenitently. "I had liefer do that than run from it, +sweetheart," he said. "What news for me?"</p> + +<p>Her face clouded. "Not as we had hoped, Señor Nicholas. The King puts +off his removal to Valladolid, and we wait upon him. My uncle is in +attendance till then, you see. But I think I could contrive a little." +She looked up inquiringly.</p> + +<p>His eyes were warm with amusement. "Let me hear your plot, little +contriver."</p> + +<p>"Then do not laugh at me—robber," she retaliated. "Don Miguel de Tobar +is coming to town, and he is my uncle upon my mother's side, and I am +very sure that he would like me for his son Miguel." She nodded wisely, +and compressed her lips.</p> + +<p>"How she is sought after!" marvelled Sir Nicholas. "Surely it needs a +robber to win her."</p> + +<p>A dimple quivered. "Maybe, señor. Now I think it would not suit my good +aunt to have me throw myself upon Don Miguel's protection, for he has +influence with the King, and he might well get an injunction to have +me away from the Carvalhos. I think, Señor Nicholas, that if I were to +talk roundabout a little they would be very glad to bear me away to +Vasconosa, out of reach of Don Miguel. And there marry me, doubtless, +but you will be at hand."</p> + +<p>"Be very sure of it. Weave your toils, fondling, but walk warily, for I +misdoubt me that aunt of yours hath the seeing eye."</p> + +<p>Her eyes sparkled with mockery. "A word out of your own mouth, Señor +Pirate—trust me."</p> + +<p>At his mother's side Don Diego learned with little surprise but +considerable annoyance that she could not remember to have inquired for +him. She seemed amused when she heard how he had been sent off. "The +rogue!" she said, and chuckled.</p> + +<p>"This cousin of mine who will not think of espousals!" said Don Diego. +"She is willing enough to have that French ruffler whisper honeywords +in her ear. Mark you that!"</p> + +<p>"Of course she is," agreed Doña Beatrice. "I have no doubt he is very +adroit. If you were more of his complexion, my son, you might make +better speed with her."</p> + +<p>Don Diego made what speed he could next day, when he offered Dominica +his hand and his heart, and spoke his piece in passionate terms. She +saw her opportunity in this, and was quick to seize on it. Don Diego +was bidden take both hand and heart elsewhere; he pressed his suit more +ardently, dared to attempt a kiss. She whisked herself out of his hold, +flew into a royal rage, and flounced away to find her aunt.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice was confronted by Flaming Indignation in a charming form, +and blinked at it.</p> + +<p>"Señora!" broke out Dominica, panting over it. "I have to complain of +my cousin! I thought you had understood me very well when I told you +that I had no mind to wed with him, yet to-day I am to be teased, it +seems, by his demanding of my hand, and more beside! Ah, more indeed!" +Her eyes flashed sparks, her tongue darted its rage. "Your son, señora, +dares to lay hands on me! I am to be mauled like any kitchen-wench! I! +I say it is not to be borne, señora, nor will I bear it. This is no way +to go to work with me. You must learn, señora, and your son with you +that I am not to be so entreated, no, not I! And if you will not learn, +then my uncle of Tobar shall hear of it. What, am I—Rada y Sylva!—to +have easy kisses thrust on me, hateful fondlings, unmannerly hugs? No, +señora, no!" Her cheeks flew storm signals; she had her hands clenched +hard at her sides.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice put by the book of poems she had been reading, but +continued to fan herself. She watched closely under her weary eyelids. +"Well, you are in a great heat," she remarked. "But what is all this to +the purpose? If you do not like Diego's kisses my advice to you is that +you wed him with speed, for if he is at all my son he will very soon +cease to want what he may have for the mere asking."</p> + +<p>Real anger leaped up; my lady seemed to grow taller with it, a very +goddess. "This is to insult me! Nasty talk, señora! Shameful talk! +Well, my uncle is coming to town, as I hear, and in a good hour! Do you +think, señora, that he will approve your plans for me? Do you think it +indeed?"</p> + +<p>"I do not," said Doña Beatrice patiently. "I think he has some little +plans of his own for you, my dear, but, believe me, they differ in +only the one particular from mine, that he would change the name of +your bridegroom."</p> + +<p>"Señora, be assured of this, that any bridegroom were less distasteful +to me than your son!" said Dominica.</p> + +<p>"You have not seen young Miguel de Tobar," her aunt reminded her. "I +concede you Diego is not a Chevalier de Guise, my dear, but he is far +preferable to Miguel."</p> + +<p>"The Chevalier de Guise!" cried out Dominica hotly. "What is the +Chevalier de Guise to me? You do not put me off so, señora! I will have +a plain answer from you: will you seek another bride for my cousin?"</p> + +<p>"I thought we understood one another better, my dear," complained Doña +Beatrice. "Of course I shall not."</p> + +<p>"Then my uncle shall hear of it, señora. You force me to it. If he +thinks that I am content to serve the interest of Carvalho he shall +know that it is not so."</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice went on fanning herself; her smile broadened. "How +foolish of you to warn me, my dear!" she remarked. "You should not +let yourself be in such a passion. You show me your defences, which +is quite ridiculous of you. I fear you will never win in a battle of +wits with me. Now had you curbed your temper, my dear, you would have +carried out this plan of yours in secret, and discomposed me sadly. I +should certainly have respected you." She picked up the book of poems +again, and began to find her place in it. "Of course you will be away +from Madrid by the time Tobar enters it."</p> + +<p>Dominica knew those sleepy eyes watched her still. There was no saying +what Doña Beatrice suspected, what traps she might be laying. The girl +let her eyes fall, bit her lips, moved a hand amongst the laces at her +bosom as though she were agitated. Her wits against her aunt's? She +was very content to set them up for a battle; played her little comedy +better even than she knew. "Aunt!" She pretended to seek for words, put +her hands together as though she would clasp them, moved them apart +again. Her eyes lifted; she tossed up her head. "And I will still find +means to let him know how you use me!" she cried. "You may do as you +please, señora, but you will not induce me to wed with Don Diego!" She +judged that to be enough: there had been sufficient childish petulance +in her voice to satisfy her aunt. She flung round on her heel, and ran +out.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice went on reading her poems. At dinner, some hours later, +she spoke to her husband in a slow, lazy voice, and with a glance of +amusement at Dominica. "I find, señor," she said, "that these heats tax +me too much. Madrid becomes insupportable."</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez was all solicitude at once, wondering fussily what might +be done to relieve the lady. She broke into his talk. "I have a simpler +remedy than these of yours, señor. I shall go to Vasconosa ahead of +you." She paused, and pulled a dish of sugar-plate towards her. "To-day +is Tuesday," she remarked. "Shall we say a week from to-day?"</p> + +<p>Don Diego looked sharply; Dominica kept her eyes down. She judged from +her aunt's faintly derisive tone that she had ascertained the date of +Tobar's arrival in Madrid. She could have wished it had been nearer, +since every day Sir Nicholas spent in Madrid added to his danger. +There could be no peace for her while he stayed. A grim fear stalked +beside her; every day she dreaded to hear of his capture; every time +she saw him his very carelessness brought her heart into her mouth. +There was a price to be paid by the lady who was loved by Mad Nicholas.</p> + +<p>He came that evening to wait on Doña Beatrice. It seemed he had an +assignation with her; she had lent him a Romance, and he came to give +it back to her, and stayed on talking French with her.</p> + +<p>His audacity passed all bounds, Dominica thought. She withdrew towards +the window, and looked severely when he flung a compliment, like a +challenge, at her. She bore herself like a maid whose primness was +shocked; only he was to know that her reproachful look was to reprimand +his recklessness, not his gallantry.</p> + +<p>She wondered whether she dared tell him that she was to leave Madrid +that next week. While she sought in her mind for a phrase that should +seem innocent enough, her aunt took the words out of her mouth.</p> + +<p>Having got the information he wanted Sir Nicholas soon took his leave. +There was some idle play between him and Doña Beatrice; Dominica had to +bite her lip to keep from smiling. Sir Nicholas humoured Doña Beatrice +to the top of her bent, whispered his audacities into her receptive +ear, and showed his watchful lady very plainly that he knew well what +way to use with her sex. But even as he devoutly kissed Doña Beatrice's +large white hand he shot a rueful, laughing look at Dominica, as though +to deprecate her silent reproof.</p> + +<p>He came to take his leave of her; she was on tenterhooks at what his +mad humour might prompt him to say or do, and curtsied very stiffly. +She would not look at him as she held out her hand. It lay in his, held +firmly, but he did not kiss it at once. His voice sounded, brimful of +teasing mischief, "But how she is cold!" he said.</p> + +<p>She tried to draw her hand away; she was near to boxing his ears.</p> + +<p>"My dear Chevalier, you have shocked my niece," said Doña Beatrice, +amused. "She is unused to your French ways. We do not go to work so +hardily in Spain."</p> + +<p>"Have I shocked her? Will she not look at me, and smile at me as she +knows how?"</p> + +<p>At that her eyes lifted. She had no smile for him, but a straight look, +a little fierce. She saw the laugh dancing in his eyes, and dropped her +own again. "I fear she is very angry with me," said Sir Nicholas sadly. +"She frowns, alas! I think if she had—let us say, a dagger—to hand, I +were sped."</p> + +<p>Her hand quivered. "You are pleased to jest, señor."</p> + +<p>He bent his head, and kissed her fingers. "Señorita, my heart is under +your feet."</p> + +<p>"Chevalier, Chevalier, you are a trifler!" said Doña Beatrice. "A +moment since I had thought it was under mine."</p> + +<p>Dominica got her hand free at last. Sir Nicholas turned to Doña +Beatrice. "Ah, madame," he said, "you are severe. But I have so many +hearts."</p> + +<p>She laughed. "Ungallant, I protest! And is there ever a one among the +many that will be true, I wonder? Oh, these Frenchmen!"</p> + +<p>"Only one, madame," said Sir Nicholas meekly.</p> + +<p>She raised her brows, willing to be entertained. "Ah? To whom this one?"</p> + +<p>"Madame, to my betrothed," said Sir Nicholas, "She hath it all."</p> + +<p>She shrugged at that. "Why, it's very dutiful, señor, but I wonder what +you will say—a year hence?"</p> + +<p>Dominica turned her back, and looked out into the garden.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is of so faithful a disposition, madame, I am very sure +I shall but repeat myself. But I shall still have a heart to lay +in—admiration—at your feet." Upon which he took his leave, not before +it was time, thought Dominica.</p> + +<p>Her aunt began to talk of the coming journey to Vasconosa.</p> + +<p>But there was to be another traveller bound thitherwards of whom she +knew nothing. Back at the Rising Sun again Sir Nicholas studied such +maps as he could come by, and conned the road as best he might. Joshua +Dimmock, watching, took heart again, and said darkly to the coat he +was folding that the sooner they were off upon this journey the better +it would be for them. "Yet," said he, brushing dust from a pair of +hose, "I must ask myself, what if the <i>Venture</i> be not there? With the +General not on board it is to be questioned whether she may keep safe +in Spanish waters. Ay, there's a rub." He eyed his master's abstracted +profile, and sighed. "We may make marks upon a map, I grant you, and +mutter of stages, but I hold, and mark me well, that we may not be +sure of a happy issue. I had rather than fifty pounds I were snug +at home. It needs not to tell me that we shall make that smuggling +port. I make bold to say that we may do that in spite of all these +bisson Spaniards. But how if we come upon this port, and find no ship +awaiting? Ay, then we are shent. We spend the remainder of our days in +Spain, and they will not be many, I warrant me! All to hang upon the +<i>Venture</i>, and the <i>Venture</i> sailing without her General! Ah, the whole +emprise is very barful."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet looked up. "Peace, chewet! What ails you?"</p> + +<p>"This ails me, master, that you have not the means to be avised of the +<i>Venture's</i> being in these waters."</p> + +<p>"Am I so often disobeyed then?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I do not say that, sir, nor would I doubt the good faith of +Master Dangerfield, but I say, master, that he is not Sir Nicholas +Beauvallet, and he may well fail."</p> + +<p>"Oh, croaker! You bring up objections cut and longtail. You're +bird-eyed, man, and see danger in every corner. Diccon has as cool a +head as you may wish to see, and has my orders to go upon beside. I +don't fear for aught there. What, would my men fail me when I was in +need?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, but if you fear naught there, master, what is it you do +fear?"</p> + +<p>"To say truth." Beauvallet answered. "I mislike the look of yon French +Ambassador."</p> + +<p>"For my part, sir, I mislike that popinjay cousin of your lady's. If +he is not of a mind to pick a quarrel with you I do not know the signs +when a man will be in fighting humour."</p> + +<p>"God help him, then!" Beauvallet said, and bent again over his map. "My +lady goes to Vasconosa on Tuesday next. Now, it is in my mind that we +will attend her on that journey."</p> + +<p>"Ay, and then, master?"</p> + +<p>"God's Death, man, how do I know who have not seen the place. We shall +carry her off, and to the coast. Ask me more when I know more."</p> + +<p>"I fear a mischance," Joshua said sadly. "This runs too smoothly for a +coil of yours, sir."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet folded his map, and put it safely away. There was a look in +his face that Joshua had seen there once or twice before. "Fear what +you will," said Sir Nicholas, "and let come what may. I tell you, by +this hand, I will reach Vasconosa, and have my lady away before she has +slept two nights in the place!"</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Don Diego, accompanying his parents and his cousin to an evening party +at the house of Don Luis de Noveli suspected his cousin of going +only to meet the Chevalier. His mother was more than weary of these +suspicions, and would lend them no ear. "My dear Diego," said she, +before they had left the house. "The Chevalier shocks Dominica far +more than he fascinates her. I regard the coming of Tobar with more +misgiving."</p> + +<p>"We shall have her fast at Vasconosa by then," he said, "and the knot +may well be tied before he can act. I would not put it beyond her to be +off with that tricksy Frenchman, if only to spite us all. I tell you, +señora, he was at her side more than half the evening at de Chinchon's +house last night, paying his court to her."</p> + +<p>"How well you play the jealous lover!" admired his mother. "I never +knew you had it in you to hate anyone as you hate this conquering +stranger. It is most entertaining."</p> + +<p>There is no doubt this young man had conceived a very violent dislike +for Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, and was at increasingly little pains to +conceal it. Maybe those blue eyes mocked too openly. Don Diego knew +himself for a very exquisite caballero, and it was evident Sir Nicholas +had no such notion of the matter. Sir Nicholas had a curl of the lip +that offended; he laughed for no apparent reason, and bore himself as +though there were few whom he considered worth the snap of a finger. +His careless eyes, with the laughter half stayed in them, looked +quizzically, as though he would say, "Do you want to fight me? Well, I +am ready for you, but I shall not wait upon you." He went abroad with +a light, swinging stride, as though he were very much at home, and the +very carriage of his neat head betokened arrogance. Don Diego burned to +let a little of this proud blood.</p> + +<p>He felt all his suspicions confirmed when he saw that the Chevalier was +present at the gathering. Since his mother refused to pay any heed to +his suspicions he determined to keep a close watch on Dominica himself, +and stayed as near her as he might all the evening. She bore this as +best she might, and hoped that Beauvallet would not come near. He was +quite capable of coming to her out of sheer devilry, she thought, and +when she caught his eye across the room she put all the warning she +could into her look. He made a grimace, but for once was obedient to +the pleading in her eyes. She had scolded him well for his behaviour +at the Casa Carvalho when she had met him last night. She told him +that such dangerous work brought her heart up into her mouth, and he +had kissed her fingers, and sworn he was a villain to alarm her. That +was all very well, but Doña Dominica had realized by now that her +lover was not only head-strong, but took a wicked delight in tempting +long-suffering Providence. But it seemed her words had had some effect, +for he kept aloof from her now. He was in his gayest mood. How could +she help watching him, dreading disaster?</p> + +<p>She had a feeling of foreboding; maybe it was due to her cousin's +unwelcome presence beside her, and the knowledge she had that he too +was watching Beauvallet, with scowling hatred in his face. She tried +to be rid of him, but he stuck close, and she saw that he suspected +her of wanting to have Beauvallet beside her. She was rescued at last +by her aunt, who presented her to a prim girl who had said she would +so much like to meet the lady who had been captured by the notorious +pirate.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicolas was within earshot, and what must the prim girl do but +ask a score of questions about El Beauvallet. Doña Dominica answered +as briefly as she might, afraid every moment that Sir Nicholas' merry +humour would break out. Out of the tail of her eye, as she told her +eager listener that she had not been brutally used by the demon-pirate, +she saw the smile lilting on his lips, and knew that he was listening.</p> + +<p>"Oh, señorita, it was a miracle!" said the prim girl fervently. "But +tell me, what is he like, this terrible man?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, señorita, there is very little to tell," said Dominica, +impatient. "He is a man like other men. I observed nothing remarkable +in him."</p> + +<p>"I had heard," said the girl, rather disappointed, "that he was very +handsome, and we know that he is daring."</p> + +<p>"He is well enough," said Dominica. "I think you in Spain have made too +great a figure of him. He is nothing above the ordinary."</p> + +<p>The black head turned; to her horror she saw that that left eyebrow had +flown up. God send the man Beauvallet was talking to suspected nothing! +She turned her shoulder resolutely. Was this a time to send a jesting +look at her?</p> + +<p>The prim girl, baulked of excitement, began to talk of Santiago, and +asked more questions. Dominica was rescued at length by Don Rodriguez, +who put a hand on her arm, and smiled at her in the deprecating way +he used. "There is one present, dear child, whom you would be glad +to meet, perchance. One who was lately at Santiago, and whom I think +you know." He lowered his voice mysteriously. "In ill-odour just now, +alas, but you will not regard it," he said, leading her across the +room. "He lost his ship—but you would know all that, for it must have +chanced before you came home." He was making for a group by the door, +unconscious of the rising tide of foreboding in his niece. "One cannot +but feel for him, but he has been much blamed. In ill-odour at Court, +my dear, so you will be wary of how you speak of such matters."</p> + +<p>A chill was spreading over her. "Who is it?" she said levelly.</p> + +<p>"Did I not say? It is Don Maxia de Perinat, child. He who was sent to +chase El Beauvallet, and—and failed. He tells me that he knew you and +your poor father." He coughed, and went on hurriedly. "Of course you +will not mention the disaster."</p> + +<p>Perinat! Perinat in Spain, and in this very house! Perinat, whom she +had last seen wild-eyed and stuttering, raving of an English devil +who laughed, and cracked a jest in the heat of battle. Every instinct +strained to shriek the news to Beauvallet, and tell him to go, go +before this looming peril could catch him up. Involuntarily she turned +her head to seek him in the crowd. She saw only the back of his black +head, the width of his shoulders. And then, while her thoughts raced, +she was aware of Perinat bowing over her hand, and offering condolences +for the death of her father.</p> + +<p>She shook off the gathering numbness that threatened to overcome her, +and forced herself to answer, to go on talking, to keep him by her at +all costs, away from Sir Nicholas, so unconscious at the other end of +the room of this imminent danger. She hardly knew what she said; her +mind was casting this way and that for the means of warning Beauvallet. +She stood before Perinat, with a forlorn hope of shielding Beauvallet +from his notice, and for the only time in her life was glad to see her +cousin approaching. She presented him to Perinat at once, hoping that +they would fall into conversation and give her time to slip away to Sir +Nicholas' side.</p> + +<p>Don Diego was bowing; Perinat had a polite word for the son of an +old acquaintance. And then, in a momentary lull, came the sound of +Beauvallet's gay voice, crisp and clear, and fatally carrying.</p> + +<p>Perinat's head was jerked up instantly; he broke off in the middle of a +sentence. "<i>Madre de Dios</i>, I should know that voice! What witchcraft +is this?" he said hoarsely.</p> + +<p>Dominica began to talk feverishly, but she was not heeded. Perinat had +stepped quickly forward, and was staring at Beauvallet's profile, like +one who could not believe his eyes.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was talking to his Andalusian friend. Numb with horror +Dominica saw the characteristic movement of the back-flung head, and +heard the gay laugh that could never be forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" The sound, hardly more than a gasp, came from Don Maxia. His +hand was fumbling at his sword hilt. "<i>Sangre de Dios</i>, am I in my +senses? Do I dream? <i>El Beauvallet!</i>"</p> + +<p>The name was shouted. Sir Nicholas swung round of instinct, but in this +was nothing singular. There was scarcely a man present who did not spin +about at the sound of that dread name flung across the room.</p> + +<p>Dominica saw the quick glance sweep the group by the door. Sir Nicholas +saw Perinat standing livid and staring, but only the veriest flash of +recognition came into his eyes.</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez was bewildered, as was everyone, but found his tongue +sooner than the rest. "What do you say, Perinat? Are you mad? +Who—what——?"</p> + +<p>"It is he! It is Beauvallet—Beauvallet's self, I tell you! <i>Sangre de +Dios</i>, do I not know him? Have I not cause? Shall I ever forget that +face, or that laugh, body of God! Ah, dog! ah, villain! At last, at +last!"</p> + +<p>The startled whisper, "<i>El Beauvallet, El Beauvallet!</i>" ran round the +room; Perinat's shaking hand pointed straight at Sir Nicholas. Amazed +faces peered; those near Beauvallet fell back suddenly, and more than +one hand felt for a sword hilt. Only Sir Nicholas stood unmoved, an +eyebrow raised in mild surprise, a look of interrogation in his face.</p> + +<p>"But—but that is the Chevalier de Guise!" someone said in a dazed +voice. "How should El Beauvallet be in Spain?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you it is he! I, Maxia de Perinat, who have fought with him +hand to hand!" Perinat's words seemed to jostle one another. "Lay +hands on him! Will you let him escape? I swear on the Cross it is El +Beauvallet!"</p> + +<p>"Perinat's misfortunes have turned his brain," whispered the Andalusian.</p> + +<p>Dominica stepped forward a pace. "Why, what are you saying, Don Maxia? +That is not Beauvallet!" Her voice was perhaps unnaturally calm, "I +should know, surely. This man is certainly not he."</p> + +<p>There was a movement behind her; Don Diego's hand gripped her +wrist. "Ah, jade, I have it at last!" he said fiercely. "This is El +Beauvallet, this flaunting Chevalier, and he is your lover!"</p> + +<p>There was a buzz of excited whispering. Someone moved to the door, as +though to guard it. Beauvallet's voice cut through the subdued babel. +"God's Life, I am flattered!" he said, and even in the midst of her +sick terror, Dominica could exult in the cool amusement in his tone, +and worship the iron nerve that could keep him careless and mocking +still. "Do you take me for El Beauvallet, señor?"</p> + +<p>"Jesting dog of a pirate, are you not he? Ah, dare you look me in the +face and say you are not he?"</p> + +<p>"What need? This is moon-madness, señor, or you are cup-shotten. If I +were Beauvallet, what in God's name should I hope to make here?"</p> + +<p>"I believe him!" Don Diego was at Perinat's side. "There is more to +this Chevalier de Guise than we know. I will tell you what you hope to +make, pirate! You hoped to snatch my cousin away. I see it all now, but +you shall go to perdition on my sword's point first!" He dragged his +sword from the scabbard as he spoke, and sprang forward.</p> + +<p>There was a hiss of steel, the glint of candlelight on a blue, +shimmering blade. Beauvallet's leaping sword was out, a true piece from +the hand of Sahagom of Toledo. Don Diego's thrusting point was caught +on the swift blade and beaten aside. Beauvallet sprang back to the +wall, and stood facing his assailant. Dominica saw the gleam of white +teeth as he smiled.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen, well? I await you. Is there any other will come to +Don Diego's assistance? If I am El Beauvallet it will take a-many and +a-many!"</p> + +<p>"Stand back, stand back, this is for me!" Perinat cried, and thrust Don +Diego aside. "Measure your sword with mine yet once again, pirate! Do +you remember how the deck was slippery beneath your feet? Ha, do you +remember, dog?" He snatched at his dagger, and bore down on Beauvallet, +a weapon in either hand.</p> + +<p>"Hold off your madman," said Sir Nicholas. "Perchance I may do him a +mischief. So-so, señor! Gently, then, and keep your guard!" He saw Don +Diego advancing on him from the side, and shifted to face him, holding +Perinat at check.</p> + +<p>Noveli, master of the house, was shocked out of his stupefaction, and +rushed forward, pulling out his sword.</p> + +<p>"What, more?" said Sir Nicholas. "Oh, brave! I am well-matched indeed."</p> + +<p>"Hold, hold!" Noveli cried, and beat up the swords. "What, are you +crazy, Perinat? Put up, young señor! put up, I say! This, in my house! +Shame! Shame on you both!"</p> + +<p>"Seize on him!" Perinat gasped. "Seize on him, I tell you! Will you let +him go, you fools? It is El Beauvallet!"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet stood leaning lightly on his rapier, and laughing as though +he found the situation irresistibly amusing. "Peace, Señor Greybeard, I +am here still!"</p> + +<p>"He laughs at you! See how he mocks!" Perinat cried, almost beside +himself. "Put my words to the test! Call the guard! Call in the guard!"</p> + +<p>Diego put up his sword. "Yes, let the guard be called in," he said. "We +will sift this to the bottom. Ho, there! Call in the guard!"</p> + +<p>Noveli turned quickly. "Do you give orders in my house, Don Diego?"</p> + +<p>But many voices took up the cry. "Yes, let the guard be summoned! Let +the matter be looked to, Noveli! If Perinat is mistaken the Chevalier +will pardon it. If he speaks sooth—nay, have in the guard!"</p> + +<p>Noveli looked uncertainly at Beauvallet, torn between his feelings as +a host, and his suspicions. Behind Beauvallet was a phalanx of men +watching for the least sign of an attempt to escape. And Beauvallet +held his sword between his hands, and laughed.</p> + +<p>"I should send for the guard, señor," he said.</p> + +<p>"Chevalier, you will pardon such seeming rudeness," Noveli said, +seriously put out.</p> + +<p>"With all my heart, señor," Beauvallet answered lightly. His glance +flickered to Dominica's face of despair; his hand went to his beard, +and for an instant a finger lay across his lips. He saw her eyes fall, +and knew that she had understood.</p> + +<p>Someone had sped forth to call the guard. Sir Nicholas turned his head, +and seemed amused to see so many gathered between him and the door. +"God's my life, you hold this Beauvallet a desperate man, do you not, +señors?" he said.</p> + +<p>Perinat put up his sword. His first wild passion had died down; he +spoke calmly now, but with great bitterness. "Desperate indeed must you +be to dare come into Spain," he said, "You have made a jest of me, and +of others, Beauvallet, but he who laughs last may laugh the longest."</p> + +<p>Beauvallet's eyes glinted. "The last laugh, señor, is certainly going +to be mine," he said. "You say that I am Beauvallet, but there is one +yonder who says I am not, and it seems she should know."</p> + +<p>"She does know!" Don Diego said, ignoring a warning look from his +mother. "You cannot fool us thus, dog!"</p> + +<p>"Enough of that!" Again Noveli intervened. "This is for other +interrogation than yours, Don Diego. Hold your peace, I command you! If +we do you an injustice, Chevalier, I hope you will be kind enough only +to laugh at us."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure of it, señor," said Sir Nicholas. "We shall all +laugh." Again his glance flitted to Dominica's face. "Let no one be ill +at ease. This affair will have a happy ending, don't doubt it." There +came a stir by the door, and the clank of spurred heels. "Aha, the +guard! Now by my faith you count El Beauvallet a dangerous fellow! As I +live, the Guards of Castile, and a round dozen of them!"</p> + +<p>He was surrounded. The lieutenant, who wore a face of incredulous +wonder, bowed stiffly. "Señor, I regret, I must ask you for your +sword." It was presented him, hilt foremost. "Señor, be good enough to +go with us."</p> + +<p>"With the greatest pleasure on earth Señor lieutenant," said +Beauvallet. He looked towards the Andalusian. "Don Juan, it seems I may +have to forego my game of <i>trucos</i> with you to-morrow, and maybe some +other engagements I had made. Accept my apologies. But all the other +engagements that I have for later dates shall certainly be kept. Señor, +lead on!"</p> + +<p>He went out, close-guarded, but his voice echoed still in Dominica's +ears: "The engagements that I have for later dates shall certainly be +kept ... shall certainly be kept."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Joshua Dimmock, prowling in the shadows outside the Casa Noveli, saw +enough, and more than enough to set him fingering his dagger. Certain, +it itched to be out, but "Yarely, my man, yarely," Joshua cautioned +himself. "One man at large is better than two caged."</p> + +<p>It was his habit to lurk near whatever house Sir Nicholas stayed in. He +was laughed at for his pains, but laid a finger to his nose. "I look +for trouble," quoth Joshua Dimmock. "I don't wait to have it brought to +my notice."</p> + +<p>It seemed he had good reason. The gentleman who went running out to +fetch in the <i>ginetes</i> from the barracks hard by little knew how +nearly he ran on death. The dagger was out, a wicked blade, long and +razor-edged; Joshua, guessing from the sound of turmoil within what +evil fate had chanced, guessed also this flying gentleman's errand. To +stab him where the neck joined the shoulder would be easy enough. Ay, +and then what? Joshua put up his dagger, snatched so instinctively from +its sheath. No way to get Sir Nicholas off, that.</p> + +<p>He bethought him that he had maybe let his mind jump at conclusions; +drew further into the shadows, and waited. He saw the <i>ginetes</i> come; +they passed so close he might have touched one. They went into the +house, and came out again soon with Sir Nicholas Beauvallet in their +midst.</p> + +<p>"Ay, I beagled it out well enough," Joshua muttered. "Now what?" +He saw Sir Nicholas walking briskly between his guards, heard him +say something to the lieutenant, and laugh. "He goes fleering to +death!" groaned Joshua. "Mocker, mocker! Will you not look your fate +in the face and know yourself sped at last? But this is to tax idle +circumstance." He pulled himself together. "Up, mother-wit! No time for +mourning, this." He peered towards the open door of the house, where +two lackeys stood talking excitedly together. "I see the first step of +my way. Now to sound these hildings." He withdrew a little way, came +out from the shadow of the wall, and went towards the Casa Noveli at +a brisk trot. "What's here?" he cried out. "Guards at your place! Who +was't? Strange doings!" He became the epitome of curiosity, and got his +answer.</p> + +<p>"<i>Madre de Dios!</i>" one of the lackeys said. "They say it is the pirate, +El Beauvallet!"</p> + +<p>"Jesu!" Joshua fell back, and crossed himself. "That fine gentleman? Do +you make a jest of me? How should such a thing be, pray you?"</p> + +<p>The first man shook his head hopelessly; it was his companion who +answered, as he prepared to go indoors. "Why, there's Admiral Perinat +within, foaming like a mad dog." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. +"He it was cried out on the Chevalier."</p> + +<p>Joshua wanted no more. The lackeys went in, remembering their duties; +Joshua went speeding towards the Puerta del Sol.</p> + +<p>He was in time; no guards had come yet to the Rising Sun to ransack +his master's baggage. He slipped in at the back entrance, waited for a +cook-maid's back to be turned, and so got him upstairs unseen.</p> + +<p>He did swift work there. Doublets, hose, boots, shirts were flung from +the chest by the window, some of them stowed away pell-mell into a +pack, the rest left to lie on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Here we play the knavish servant," Joshua encouraged himself. "What +it is to have a head on one's shoulders!" He found Sir Nicholas' +strong-box, and forced it open with the point of his dagger. "Ay, +thus it goes. We take the money, and some few papers we may need, and +leave the box to tell of our thieving. Ha, what's this?" He unfolded +the Chevalier de Guise's pass. "Softly, Joshua, that should be found, +for I think we have no more need of it, and it may very easily help +Sir Nicholas. We must be supposed to have searched in vain for it." +He looked round him, saw a loose mandilion he had pulled out of the +cupboard, and caught it up. "In the pocket, I believe. Lie there then, +and I hope they may find you." He tucked the pass into an inner pocket, +and hung the coat up at the back of the cupboard. "Ay, we sought it, +and found it not. It may serve you yet, master." He came away from the +cupboard. "Cheerly, Joshua! all will be well yet. Now to stow these +clothes away." He packed as much of Sir Nicholas' raiment as he could +carry with him, hid the jewels about his own person, and nipped out to +get such of his own traps as he should need. Still there came no sound +of guards approaching to seize Beauvallet's papers. Joshua spied from +the window, listened, heard only the voice of a tapster below, and drew +in again to finish his work. Two neat bundles stood ready upon the +floor, but this did not seem to be enough for Joshua Dimmock. He went +to work to create more havoc, and succeeded very fairly. A small chest +he had emptied he chose to lock, and then break open. He tossed an old +doublet into it, a pair of stocks, a riding boot. "Ay, that is the way +it goes. The naughty knave to rifle his master's chest! Master, you may +live to thank God you have me for your servant yet." He stood back, +and surveyed the litter. "A rare gallimaufry, by my faith! What more? +God's light! The sword!" He slapped his forehead, and darted to unearth +the weapon from the depths of the cupboard in the wall. Out it came, +that blade from the hand of Ferrara, delicate, flexible, with straight +quillons, and a knuckle-bow of two shell shapes, chased with gold. "<i>My +bite is sure!</i>" quoth Joshua. "I warrant me!"</p> + +<p>Downstairs the inn was quiet, for it was late into the evening now. +Joshua might have got away with none to see his flight, but chose +instead to stumble into the sleepy tapster. He executed a well-feigned +start, and let fly a French oath. "<i>Sangdieu!</i>" A ducat was pressed +into the tapster's hand. "You do not see me," said Joshua. "Eh?"</p> + +<p>"I see you very plainly," said the tapster, a-gape.</p> + +<p>"That is not how it runs. Look you!" He took the tapster's ear between +finger and thumb, and whispered. "Word's brought my master's clapped +up. Do you take me now? Well, he will be free soon enough, I suppose, +but I'll not be here to see it." He looked slyly. "There's a little +farm in Picardy, and a rare wench to be won—if a man had the means." +He patted the money-bags slung about his waist; indeed he fairly +staggered under the weight of them. "I don't let opportunity slip, +Mother of God!"</p> + +<p>The tapster was bemused. He twisted his ear free. "What's this? Your +master clapped up?"</p> + +<p>"Some idle talk of his being El Beauvallet. Ho-ho, a very likely tale! +Think I, it's some enemy has put this on him, for he's known the length +and breadth of France for a Guise. But these are not matters for me. +I'm for the Frontier, and a good riddance to a bad master!"</p> + +<p>The tapster was left to blink after him. He shook his head, making +nothing of all this mysterious talk, and yawned, and wondered what +o'clock it might be. Joshua got clear away while he was still wondering.</p> + +<p>There was one other who was concerned in this capture, one who had also +a part to play, and was warily mindful of it. The party at Noveli's +house broke up swiftly, but not before many guests had crowded round +Doña Dominica to hear what she might have to say.</p> + +<p>In her heart was despair, for the hawk was snared, but she could +still do what she might to aid him. Courage mounted; she set to +fanning herself, and forced her pale lips into a smile of incredulity. +"Señors, I have no more to say than what I have said. If this man +is El Beauvallet he is changed indeed since last I saw him, I grant +you a like colouring, but for the rest—<i>Madre de Dios</i>, if you but +knew the pirate, and had heard his abominable Spanish!" She tinkled a +laugh, became aware of her aunt close beside her, and turned. "Well, +señora, your poor Chevalier is fallen upon an evil hour indeed!" She +sank her voice. "Perinat——" She looked significantly, and touched her +forehead. "Ever since he lost his ship he has been—strange in the head +on this one subject." She nodded wisely.</p> + +<p>Don Diego made as if to speak, but his mother interposed. "I have not +been so entertained for many a long day," she said. "I am for my bed +now. I suppose we shall hear more of this in the morning. Come, my +dear. Do you follow us, Don Diego?"</p> + +<p>He waved them away; he had still much to say, and was burning to say +it. "Presently, señora. Do not wait upon my coming."</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice led her niece to make her curtsey to their hostess.</p> + +<p>There was a battle to be fought now, harder than the skirmish that +had just passed, Dominica knew well. As they jolted homewards in the +bumping coach Don Rodriguez was left to talk as he pleased. Doña +Beatrice lay back against the cushions, and allowed him to run on. He +exclaimed, wondered, surmised to his fidgetty heart's content, and his +niece put in a word where she might.</p> + +<p>They reached the Casa Carvalho. Doña Beatrice went with her niece up +the stairs, and followed her to her chamber. Dominica had herself well +in hand. Now for the battle! now for the setting up of wits against +wits!</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice sank down into a chair by the window. "So that is it!" +she said, amused. "What a daring lover you have, my dear! Yes, I was +hoodwinked. I must be getting old." She shook her head over it.</p> + +<p>"Heaven, señora, are you too besotted then?" asked Dominica scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Make no mistake, my dear," said Doña Beatrice placidly, "I wish him +all success. Diego was in a rare taking, was he not. Yes, many of them +there had a fine scare to-night. Cry Brava, El Beauvallet! But I think +I will have you away into the country." She smiled. "A very charming +romance, my dear. A pity it can come to naught."</p> + +<p>Dominica pressed her hands to her temples. "You make my head to reel!" +she complained. "I love a pirate? God save you, señora, what next will +you put on me?"</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice nodded. "Very well played, my dear. You have more head +than I gave you credit for. But you need not be so careful now. I have +no wish to see your hero perish. No, none whatsoever, I assure you. +I have nothing but respect for a man of such daring. I wonder how he +contrived to come by those papers of his? It would make a rare tale, I +do not doubt. Alack, I am not like to hear it." She sighed. "But for +you, my child—you must be got away with all speed."</p> + +<p>"Why must I?" Dominica blinked at her. "Am I in peril, señora, because +your infamous son accuses me of having a pirate for my lover?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, was it not foolish of him? Madness!" agreed her aunt. "He has no +head. Enough, one would say, to bring the familiars of the Inquisition +to our house to-morrow. That, my dear, is one reason why you should be +got away, and swiftly wed. We shall give the lie to suspicion of heresy +against you. No doubt, if his papers are in order, as I daresay they +may be, El Beauvallet will be set at large. Faith, a man who would take +his life in his hand right to the heart of Spain might even contrive to +snatch you from under my nose! Well, child, all honour to him if he can +compass it, but you shall not expect me to lend him my aid."</p> + +<p>"If his papers are in order," Dominica pointed out, "he will stand +proved to be the man he says he is, so what fear?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I too have brain. I see much now that—I confess—was hidden +from me before." She smoothed the heavy silk of her dress. She was +still smiling, still imperturbable. "Such a personable man—to be a +pirate. I do not blame you at all, my dear. You made rare work of it +aboard that ship, did you not? It is all most enlivening. For you I +admit a pang or two. It will pass, and you will remember that you have +had more romance than comes to most women in this weary world. But we +shall leave Madrid. Certainly we shall leave Madrid."</p> + +<p>"As you please, señora, but you give me no good reasons."</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice picked up her fan. "I will give you one you may perceive +to be good, child. If you stay here you may haply be examined. Now I do +not want that."</p> + +<p>"I am very willing, aunt. I can but say what I have said."</p> + +<p>"King Philip, and the Holy Inquisition," said her aunt gently, "are not +nice in their methods of obtaining information. Enough harm has been +done already without you becoming suspected to be a heretic." She rose, +and went with her languid step to the door. "We will have you safe +married, my dear, and think out some tale against our need. As I see +it, my child, you cannot better serve this bold lover of yours than to +give the lie in such a way to those who suspect you and him."</p> + +<p>The attack was renewed again next day, by Don Diego now, curbing his +anger. He pressed marriage on his cousin, hinted his father might +intercede for El Beauvallet, besought her to wed him at once, and trust +to his good offices to help Beauvallet.</p> + +<p>These were blundering tactics; Dominica curled her lip at them and +him. Well she knew that once his identity was proved no power under +the sun could save Beauvallet. The Holy Inquisition would step in and +claim him; it was not necessary for Don Diego to tell her that she +would see her lover burned at the stake. She knew it, had faced the +horror squarely, and would not now change colour. Desperate need lent +her courage, and agility of mind. She never hesitated, never blanched, +could still laugh her scorn. "This is very kind, cousin!" she said +tauntingly. "And if the unfortunate gentleman were indeed El Beauvallet +and beloved of me no doubt I should avail myself of your offer." Oh, +but her tongue had a sting in it still! She watched him flush, and +bite his lip. She curtseyed. "But I have no interest in the Chevalier +de Guise, good my cousin, and I doubt he does not stand in need of my +help."</p> + +<p>He took her wrist and shook it. "You think you hoodwink me? You think I +do not know that fellow for what he is? Well, you shall see him burn!"</p> + +<p>She smiled disdainfully. "Shall I so? I think it is you, my cousin, who +will know yourself for a fool before many days are out. Loose my wrist. +You will get nothing by this usage."</p> + +<p>He left her, sought out his mother. He was in a fret, biting his nails; +he flew out upon her coolness, and was urgent with her to have the girl +away at once.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice regarded him blandly. She seemed amused by his agitation, +and set her finger at the root of it. "One would say, my dear Diego, +that you went in considerable fear of this Englishman."</p> + +<p>"I do not fear any man, señora, but this devil——" He crossed +himself. "There's witchcraft at work! You have not talked with Perinat. +He tells me—in league with the devil, señora! What, could he have come +otherwise into Spain, or sunk so many good ships of ours? We know El +Draque to employ evil arts, and this man was trained under him."</p> + +<p>"Witchcraft?" said Doña Beatrice. Her shoulders shook. "I wonder if his +arts will bring him off from that prison?"</p> + +<p>"You speak very lightly, señora. You cannot appreciate the dangers of +our situation. While that man is alive, and my cousin still a maid, we +may not know a moment's peace! At any time he might even be released! +Have you thought of that? Perinat has little credit; his word may +not serve against the fiend's papers. What, are we to have him loose +amongst us, and you'll sit smiling?"</p> + +<p>"I was never more in smiling humour," she remarked. "To see you so +disturbed, my son! I owe the pirate a debt of gratitude, it seems. And +you were within an ace of biting your glove in his face!"</p> + +<p>"And would do so still!" he said sharply. "Make no mistake, señora, if +he and I stand up together with a sword apiece I shall know what to +do. If I fear aught it is his wiles, his devilish cunning! A man may +not fight against witchcraft. Horrible sin! Deadly danger!" Again he +crossed himself.</p> + +<p>"Do you look to see him waft off Dominica in a cloud of smoke?" she +inquired. "I find you ridiculous, Don Diego."</p> + +<p>"Maybe, maybe. It is easy to sit contemptuous, señora, but you have had +no dealings with the man."</p> + +<p>"I have had some pretty traffic with him. He is a very bold rogue, +and I had ever a fondness for such men. Moreover"—her fan waved +rhythmically—"I like the merry look he has. A proper man, when all is +said. I shall be sorry if I hear he comes not off."</p> + +<p>"You will be sorry!" he ejaculated. "Oh, señora, will you lead my +cousin to him, and say 'God bless you, pirate, take my niece?'"</p> + +<p>"You are a fool to ask me," said his mother composedly. "I daresay I +am as much his enemy as you are, but I have this gift, my son, that I +can respect my foes. You may conjure up what nightmares of witchcraft +you please; I shall not be in a heat for that. I am sure the man would +laugh if he could hear you."</p> + +<p>He pounced on that. "Yes, señora, yes! And will you tell me that it is +not Satan who prompts him to laugh? Will you tell me that a mere man +laughs as this warlock does when he faces death, and sees the dead all +about him? Perinat could tell a tale!"</p> + +<p>"I make no doubt he could," agreed Doña Beatrice. "I pray I may not +have to hear him. I would stake my life all the magic this man uses +is the magic of courage, and the arts you and others such as you have +endowed him with. He takes a galleon: witchcraft! you cry. He sacks a +town: more witchcraft! He comes into Spain on an errand of romance: +foulest witchcraft of all! swear you. Well, I will tell you what I +think, and I believe I am not a fool. He is English, therefore a little +mad; he is a lover, therefore reckless. If he laughs it is because he +is of those sort of men who will laugh though they die for it. There is +all his magic." She yawned. "I dare say he will laugh as he goes to the +stake, as I fear he will go. You fatigue me, Don Diego, and put me out +of all patience with myself that I bore a fool."</p> + +<p>"Very well, señora," he said hotly, "It's very well! But will you take +my cousin into the country?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," she said.</p> + +<p>"At once, señora, with what speed you can make!"</p> + +<p>She raised her eyelids momentarily. "I shall leave Madrid for Vasconosa +on Tuesday, as we have concerted, my son."</p> + +<p>"Folly!" he cried, and took a turn about the room.</p> + +<p>She lay back upon the day-bed, completely at her ease. "Do you think +so?" she said mildly. "Maybe I see more clearly. All Madrid knows that +I leave for Vasconosa on Tuesday. What do you suppose Madrid would +think if I was off in a sudden start? There is only one thing that can +make me put forward my departure, and that is the coming of Tobar. Pray +you go harry your father with these fears and spare me." She shut her +eyes as though she would go off into a doze.</p> + +<p>He checked, pondered it, and said grudgingly: "I had not thought of +that."</p> + +<p>"No," she said, not troubling to open her eyes. "You lack the habit of +thought, I believe. I wish you would leave me; you disturb my <i>siesta</i> +to no purpose that I can see."</p> + +<p>"I pray you may not be disturbed by anything more disastrous than my +presence, señora!" he said. "You choose to sneer and think yourself +wiser than us all, but I will tell you this!—I shall warn my father if +that devil escapes from his prison he must send the King's men hot-foot +after him to Vasconosa!"</p> + +<p>"By all means," agreed the lady. "Go and warn him at once."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Upon the morning following the strange arrest King Philip was disturbed +at his orisons by a secretary made over-bold by the amazing news. He +must needs, forgetful of time and place, blurt out to his master that +El Beauvallet was taken prisoner. King Philip made no sign at all, but +went on with his prayers.</p> + +<p>The secretary flushed scarlet and drew back. King Philip finished his +prayers and went his stately way to his cabinet.</p> + +<p>He sat down at his desk there, placed his gouty foot upon the velvet +stool, and pondered a document. A note was laboriously written in the +margin. King Philip laid down his quill and raised his hooded eyes to +the secretary. "You said something," he stated, and folded his hands +tranquilly before him.</p> + +<p>Vasquez, still discomposed, told the news baldly. "Sire, El Beauvallet +was captured at the house of Noveli last night!"</p> + +<p>Philip thought it over for a moment. "That is not possible," he said at +last. "Explain yourself."</p> + +<p>The tale came tumbling out then, garbled, of course, but sufficiently +arresting. Vasquez had it from Admiral Perinat that the Chevalier de +Guise was none other than El Beauvallet, the terrible pirate. The +Chevalier, then, was laid by the heels, and there were men in the +ante-chamber craving an audience with his Majesty.</p> + +<p>Philip blinked once, but seemed unmoved. "The Chevalier de Guise," +he said slowly. "His papers were in order," he announced heavily. He +looked calmly at Vasquez. "Does he admit it?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"No, sire, I believe not. I believe—I am sure—he sent at once to +the French Ambassador to demand his protection. But Don Maxia de +Perinat——"</p> + +<p>Philip looked at his folded hands. "Perinat is a bungler," he said. +"One who blunders once may blunder twice. This seems to me a foolish +tale. I will see M. de Lauvinière."</p> + +<p>The French Ambassador came in a moment later, unhurriedly, and made +his bow. His countenance was a little troubled, but he made no haste +to come to his business. Compliments passed, an idle word on some +idle matter. At length Philip said: "You have come upon some urgent +business, señor. Let me hear it."</p> + +<p>The Ambassador bowed again. "I have come upon the strange business of +the arrest of the Chevalier de Guise, sire," he said, and paused as +though he hardly knew how to proceed.</p> + +<p>Philip waved one hand slightly. "Take your time, señor," he said +kindly. "I perceive that you are troubled. You may trust me with your +whole mind."</p> + +<p>This was to set the Ambassador at his ease. De Lauvinière, knowing the +King of old, inclined his head with a slightly ironic smile. The irony +went unnoticed. "Sire, the Chevalier has sent, as a subject of France, +to claim my protection," he said bluntly. "I am indeed troubled. I have +to understand that he has been arrested on suspicion of being no less a +person than Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, the sea-robber. My first impulse, +sire, was to laugh at a charge so absurd."</p> + +<p>Philip put his finger-tips together, and over them watched the +Ambassador. "Continue, señor."</p> + +<p>"The Chevalier, sire, very naturally denies this. His papers are in +order; I cannot find from anything that I hear that there is any other +proof to substantiate the charge than Don Maxia de Perinat's word. I +have seen Don Maxia, sire, and I must humbly confess that although he +speaks as a man altogether convinced, I cannot deem his conviction +to be sufficient evidence against the Chevalier. Moreover, sire, +it appears that a certain lady who was taken prisoner by this same +Beauvallet not so many months ago utterly denies that this man is he."</p> + +<p>"I had not supposed it possible, señor, that El Beauvallet could be in +Spain," said Philip calmly. "You come to request his release."</p> + +<p>The Ambassador hesitated. "Sire, this is a very strange, a very +difficult matter," he said. "It is no part of my desire to act hastily +in it."</p> + +<p>"Rest assured, señor, we shall do nothing without careful +consideration," Philip said. "Do you identify the Chevalier?"</p> + +<p>Again there was a momentary hesitation. "I cannot do that, sire. I am +not over-familiar with the members of the house of Guise; I have never, +to my knowledge, met this man. But from what I know of the family I did +from the first moment of seeing him suspect that this man might not be +what he claimed to be. It is in my mind that the Chevalier de Guise +should be a younger man than this, nor can I trace any resemblance to +the Guises in his countenance."</p> + +<p>Philip weighed that. "It might thus chance, señor," he said.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sire. I may well be mistaken. But upon my first meeting +with him I wrote into France to discover more of him. The answer to +my letter must be awaited before I can state whether this man is the +Chevalier or whether he is not. I have come here to-day, sire, to +request you, very humbly, to be patient a few weeks, to hold your hand, +in effect, until I receive the answer to my letter."</p> + +<p>Philip nodded slowly. "We shall do nothing unadvisedly," he said. "We +must think on this. You shall hear more of our decision, señor. Be sure +we should be loth to proceed against a subject of our cousin of France."</p> + +<p>"I have to thank your Majesty for your courtesy," de Lauvinière said, +and bowed over the King's cold hand. He was ushered out of the cabinet, +and passed through the ante-chamber without delay. Perinat tried to +stop him, and shot an eager question, but de Lauvinière answered +evasively, and passed on.</p> + +<p>The King would not see Don Maxia de Perinat. "It does not need for us +to listen to Don Maxia," he said coldly. "He will make his deposition +to the Alcalde at a later time. We will give audience to Don Cristobal +de Porres."</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal, commander of the Guards of Castile, Governor of the +great barracks where Beauvallet was imprisoned, was awaiting the King's +pleasure in the anteroom. He was a man of some forty years of age, dark +and tall, with a grave countenance and a thin mouth half concealed by +his black mustachio and the pointed beard he wore. He came in very +promptly, and stood just inside the door, deeply bowing. "Sire!"</p> + +<p>"We have sent for you, señor, to inquire into this matter of your +prisoner. I do not immediately understand why the <i>ginetes</i> were called +in."</p> + +<p>"The Casa Noveli, sire, is hard by the barracks," Porres answered. +"A gentleman came in hot haste with the news that El Beauvallet +was captured, and my lieutenant, Cruza, perhaps acted without due +reflection. I have held the man in ward against the hearing of your +Majesty's pleasure."</p> + +<p>Philip seemed to be satisfied, for he said nothing for a moment or two, +but gazed with apparent abstraction before him. Presently he brought +his eyes back to Porres' face, and spoke abruptly. "Let search be made +in his baggage," he said. "We shall require you to keep the Chevalier +under surveillance, Don Cristobal, until such time as we make known +our further pleasure. If he travels with a servant——" he paused. "It +might be well to interrogate the man."</p> + +<p>"Sire——!"</p> + +<p>Philip waited.</p> + +<p>"It was judged expedient, sire, to send early this morning to the inn +where the Chevalier lodged. I do not know sire, if this was agreeable +to your Majesty, but in consideration—the charge was of such a +nature—there was a fear——"</p> + +<p>"Compose yourself, señor."</p> + +<p>"In short, sire, acting a little on Don Maxia de Perinat's advice, I +caused search to be made through the Chevalier's effects, and sent +to apprehend the servant, deeming it a measure your Majesty would +approve."</p> + +<p>"You acted precipitately," said Philip. "These things are not done +without good advice. Continue."</p> + +<p>"I ask your Majesty's pardon if I did wrongly. When my men came to the +inn they found the—the Chevalier's baggage strewn about, his chests +and strong box broken open and empty. His money was gone, his jewels, a +sword of Ferrara make, the best of his dress—in short, sire, a seeming +robbery, committed by the servant, who had fled."</p> + +<p>"Who had fled," repeated the King. "But continue, señor."</p> + +<p>"This we thought a suspicious circumstance, sire, but upon question +the tapster at the inn confessed to having had speech with the servant +last night, when he was evidently making his escape. The man says that +he was something merry in his bearing, talked of his good fortune, and +said that if his master was laid by the heels it was a good riddance to +him, and he was not one to be slow to catch at opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Possible! Possible!" said Philip. "Yet this might well be a ruse. We +have to consider all points, Don Cristobal. What said the Chevalier?"</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal smiled rather ruefully. "The Chevalier, sire, exhibited a +very natural anger, and—in fact, sire, he demands—he is high in his +tone—that strict search should be made for the fellow. He would have +us send after the man to the Frontier, for he is left penniless. The +Chevalier, sire, was particularly enraged at the loss of his sword. He +started up, sire, and demanded to know whether the servant had made off +with this piece, and upon being told that it was not to be found, he +seemed like to fly into a very real passion. The next thing he asked, +sire, was whether his papers, too, were gone, and it seemed to me—I +was watching him closely—that he showed great relief when I could +assure him that they were safe."</p> + +<p>"Ah, the papers were left?" Philip asked.</p> + +<p>"They were discovered, sire, in the inner pocket of a mandilion. I +judged that the man had overlooked them in his haste. A wallet was +found on the floor with a few odd bills in it, but nothing more. The +Chevalier's linen was overturned as though the servant had sought +amongst it for something, and we found sundry other articles of +raiment."</p> + +<p>"Let these be taken to the Chevalier," said Philip. "This is a delicate +matter, señor, needing our careful judgment."</p> + +<p>There was the sound of a softly opened door behind him. A man came into +the room from some inner room behind Philip, a man in a priest's gown. +Philip's thin lips parted in a smile that showed teeth that were yellow +and rather pointed. "You are come opportunely, Father."</p> + +<p>The priest had gone unobtrusively to the window, but he turned at +Philip's words, and came nearer to the King's chair. He was Father +Allen, an English Jesuit, never far from Philip's side. "You have need +of me, sire?"</p> + +<p>"I may have need of you, Father," Philip answered cautiously. "There +is a man held in ward, Father, who is accused of being the freebooter, +Beauvallet."</p> + +<p>"I have heard something of this, sire, from Frey Luis."</p> + +<p>"Do you know this Beauvallet, Father?" asked Philip directly.</p> + +<p>"I regret, sire, no. I knew his father by sight, but the sons by +hearsay only."</p> + +<p>"A pity." Philip's smile died. He regarded the opposite wall for a +while. "I do not see what El Beauvallet does in Spain," he said, and +awaited enlightenment.</p> + +<p>It came from Porres. "The tale is very strange, sire, almost +incredible. It is said—by the lady's cousin—that El Beauvallet came +into Spain to carry off Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva."</p> + +<p>Philip looked at him. It was plain that such a mad exploit was beyond +his Catholic Majesty's comprehension.</p> + +<p>Father Allen spoke from behind the King's chair. "Beauvallet had no +need to come into Spain if that had been his purpose."</p> + +<p>Philip nodded. "That is true. This is a very foolish tale," he said. +"Moreover, it is impossible for such a man as El Beauvallet to enter +into Spain."</p> + +<p>"As to that, sire"—Father Allen lifted his shoulders—"there might be +ways of compassing it, if the man were bold enough."</p> + +<p>A new voice spoke from the door behind Philip. "A man in league with +the powers of darkness could do it." A monk of the Dominican order had +come in quietly. His cowl partly shaded his face, but his eyes shone +dark and intense. He came further into the room. "I have thought on +this, sire." He sighed heavily. "Who can say what such a man might do?"</p> + +<p>The faintest hint of a contemptuous smile flitted across Father Allen's +lips, but he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Consider, sire, what dreadful errand this man may have come upon," +insisted Frey Luis in a hushed voice.</p> + +<p>Philip brought his gaze round to the Frey. "What errand?" he asked, +puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Sire, how shall we say that El Beauvallet would hesitate to seek the +life of even your Majesty?" Frey Luis folded his hands in the wide +sleeves of his habit and fixed his eyes on Philip.</p> + +<p>Philip moved a paper on his desk. His brain turned this over and +detected a flaw. "If such were his errand, Frey Luis, he would have +made the attempt when I saw him in this room with only yourself +present," he said.</p> + +<p>"Sire, who knows in what cunning ways Satan goes to work?"</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal interposed. "I do not think that this man is such a one, +sire. I could more readily believe, from what I have seen of the man, +in Don Diego de Carvalho's explanation."</p> + +<p>But King Philip was not at all inclined to believe in it. His +matter-of-fact mind discarded it as the wildest of suppositions. "A +test might be made," he mused. "A simple Mass, perhaps."</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal coughed. The dull eyes travelled to his face. "You were +about to say, señor?"</p> + +<p>"The Chevalier, sire, has made the suggestion himself."</p> + +<p>Philip looked at the Jesuit. Father Allen spoke smoothly. "That is +clever of him," he said. "But you should know, sire, that it is not so +long since the Beauvallets were of the True Faith. It is almost sure +that this man would pass such a test triumphantly."</p> + +<p>Frey Luis spoke again. "There are tests the Holy Inquisition would +impose that would be harder to pass. We have to think of the soul, +sire. Let this man be given over to the infinite compassion of the +Church."</p> + +<p>Philip laid his hand on the table. "A heretic of any nation, Frey +Luis, belongs to the Church. I am not so undutiful a son of Christ +as to withhold from the Church any heretic, be he a notorious pirate +or a peaceable burgher," he said austerely. "As an enemy to Spain El +Beauvallet should be judged by the secular arm, but I have to think of +the soul, which must be saved at all costs. The Church demands him."</p> + +<p>"Your Majesty is a faithful son of the Church," Father Allen said. +"That is well known. Humbly I would suggest, sire, that the charge of +heresy be strictly followed up."</p> + +<p>There was a short silence. Don Cristobal stood patiently waiting by the +curtain that hung over the doorway. The King's eyes were veiled; he +seemed to brood, like some sated vulture. What thoughts passed in that +tortuous mind even Father Allen could not guess.</p> + +<p>"There is as yet no suspicion of heresy," the King said at last. "We +must remember, Father, that we have to deal with a subject of France."</p> + +<p>Father Allen bowed his head and stood back. The matter was plain enough +now. Philip had no wish to offend the French King upon so trivial a +matter, nor did he want his own secret dealings with the Guises to +be made public. He would not run the risk of the Chevalier de Guise +disclosing these dealings, Father Allen knew well.</p> + +<p>Frey Luis, no Jesuit, but a priest with one single aim, one obsession, +did not read the King's mind so acutely, nor, had he been able to +appreciate Philip's difficulty, would it have weighed with him. +His faith was simple, and burned like a consuming flame; earthly +considerations he would never consider. "The Inquisition claims him," +he said, "There may yet be time to rescue his soul from the depths to +which it has sunk."</p> + +<p>The King gave only half an ear to this. "We gain nothing by haste," he +said. "You assume, Frey Luis, that this man is indeed El Beauvallet. I +am not so easily satisfied. I have listened to wild tales; they do not +convince me."</p> + +<p>"The Holy Inquisition, sire, is tender above all things and infinitely +just," said Frey Luis earnestly. "It does not leap to conclusions, and +there can be nothing to be feared at its hands by a true son of Christ. +If this man be the Chevalier he could raise no objection to appearing +before a tribunal appointed to sift him."</p> + +<p>Philip listened in silence. "True," he said meditatively, "There could +be no objection. A son of the Church would not flinch from such a +test." He paused and frowned. Much was revealed in such tests, he knew +very well; perhaps more in this instance might be forthcoming than +would be agreeable to his Catholic Majesty. The King saw clearly that +this was yet another case that went to prove the truth of his maxim +that nothing should be attempted without mature reflection. His frown +cleared. He repeated his former observation. "We gain nothing by undue +haste. If the man is proved not to be the Chevalier de Guise, I shall +know how to act. Until such time as I shall receive intelligence from +M. de Lauvinière, the Chevalier shall be kept in ward." He turned to +Porres. "This will be your charge, señor. You will treat the Chevalier +with all consideration, but let him be kept in guard." The frown +returned. "He must be used with strict courtesy," he said slowly. "He +will appreciate the grave difficulties of our situation. But we would +not have him in the least degree rudely entreated."</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal was a little puzzled. "Pardon, sire, is he to be a +prisoner, or may he go abroad?"</p> + +<p>Such bluntness was little to Philip's taste. His frown deepened. Father +Allen interposed. "Sire, if this man should be Beauvallet you cannot +guard him too securely."</p> + +<p>"True," the King said. "We have to think of the safety of our realm. +You have some apartment, señor, in which he might be safely bestowed? +Some room from which no exit is possible? We do not speak of prison +cells."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire, he is in such a room now, pending your pleasure."</p> + +<p>"There is no need to put indignity upon one who may well be proved +innocent of the charge proffered against him," Philip said. "A lock +should suffice, and a sentry outside. You will see to it, señor. We +shall hold you responsible for the Chevalier's safety and well-being. +You will remark his bearing, and report to us the least sign of an +attempt to escape."</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal bowed. "I shall obey your Majesty in all my best," he +said, and bowed himself out of the closet.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>No word came from the Alcazar to summon Dominica to answer an +examination. Don Rodriguez, uneasily awaiting such a summons, brought +back word first that the Chevalier was to be held in ward pending the +arrival of word from France; second, that his Majesty had spoken no +word concerning Doña Dominica; and thirdly, that Don Miguel de Tobar +had started for Madrid sooner than had been expected, and was likely to +arrive within the next few days.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice was unwillingly roused to action. Sighing over it, she +said that it was all very fatiguing, and not a little tiresome, but if +suspicion did not rest on Doña Dominica there was no reason why they +should not leave Madrid upon Saturday.</p> + +<p>Dominica heard this with dismay. God knows what she hoped for by +remaining in the capital; she hardly knew herself, but to journey +north so many leagues out of sight or sound of Madrid filled her with +despair. To stay could do Beauvallet no good. True enough, but how +could one go, knowing him to be in such danger?</p> + +<p>She said never a word, but bowed her head slightly and tried to look +indifferent. She was far from that ideal state. While she was borne off +north God alone knew what might be done to Beauvallet. She had heard +that those who fell into the clutch of the Inquisition were sometimes +never heard of again. She fell to trembling and to silent prayer. Her +own fate seemed no longer to be a matter of moment. Listlessly she +observed a certain quiet satisfaction in her cousin's demeanour which +she supposed could betoken no good, but it seemed no longer to signify. +If Beauvallet died they might do with her as they would.</p> + +<p>Don Diego left Madrid a day ahead of his mother and cousin. Dominica +heard of his plans without change of countenance, but his mother +drawled: "You do not ride with us?"</p> + +<p>He answered very easily that he would go before to have all in +readiness against their coming to Vasconosa. He could not but think +that the Carvalho guards would be protection enough for their equipage.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice looked at him with narrowed eyes, seemed to consider him, +but said only: "You are not very gallant, my son."</p> + +<p>His departure was watched by one of whom he knew nothing. Joshua, +anxious to get speech with Dominica, haunted the vicinity of the Casa +Carvalho, and saw Don Diego set forward that Friday with his valet and +two lackeys with led sumpters. Joshua's sharp nose smelled mischief. He +lounged against the sun-baked wall and picked his teeth, but his ears +were on the prick and his eyes sharp beneath the slouching brim of his +hat. A chance word let fall by one of the lackeys strapping a pack to +the sumpter disclosed their destination. There was little need of it; +Joshua had been in small doubt. He watched Don Diego mount and gather +up the reins; heard him admonish the lackeys to press forward at speed; +and saw him ride off. Joshua drew his own conclusions.</p> + +<p>"Ay, go swiftly, villain!" he apostrophised Don Diego. "Waste no time, +for you will have Mad Nick behind you, never doubt it! Cullion and +coystrill! Oh, an eater of broken meats, a very pungent rascal! It +would do one's heart good to slit the villain's nose. I shall suggest +it to my master in due course." He heaved a sigh. "Master, as I see it, +you would do well to break out of ward swiftly. Here's roguery afoot. +If I can but get speech with my lady, and know what they will be about! +A plague on all women!"</p> + +<p>An hour of patient loitering rewarded him. Dominica at last appeared, +accompanied by her maid, and bound, as Joshua had hoped she might be, +to hear Mass at a neighbouring Church. She cast a passing look at him +where he lounged, but it was unrecognising. As well it might be, for +there was little trace of swaggering Joshua in the sober, clean-shaved +personage she saw. He wore a buffin gown as might some needy clerk; +gone were the ambitious mustachios, gone the beard that Sir Nicholas +was wont to call his <i>pique de vent</i>, gone, too, the strutting +carriage. A meek individual followed my lady at a discreet distance to +Church.</p> + +<p>She chose an unoccupied bench at the back of the Church. Joshua waited +until old Carmelita was bowed over her rosary, devout and unseeing, +then slid on to the bench and edged gradually closer to my lady.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were open, looking straight before her. She became aware +of Joshua and turned her head. She was inclined to be angry at his +encroachment: that he saw by the spark in her eyes. He looked fully at +her, laid a finger to his lips and beckoned her surreptitiously nearer.</p> + +<p>She did not know him; she stiffened; her look should have abashed +him. He was at a loss; he dared not move nearer to her lest the maid +should be roused from her devotions, or the lady withdraw. He looked +imploringly, and she turned her shoulder. A hasty glance round him +showed him only a few people busy at their prayers. He bent his head +and whispered: "Lady, <i>Reck Not</i>!"</p> + +<p>His quick eyes peeped up at her; she had heard; she was looking keenly +at him now. Again he made that little beckoning movement. She let fall +her missal, bent to pick it up, and in the doing of it shifted her +position till she was close beside him.</p> + +<p>He pretended to mumble prayers, telling over the beads of a rosary. +"Lady, you do not know me. I am Joshua Dimmock. My beard is off. What +of that? Caution! Caution!"</p> + +<p>She stole a glance at him, met the upward flash of his shrewd grey +eyes. Recognition sprang into her own. She bent her head and put her +clasped hands up to hide her face. "You! Oh, what do you know?"</p> + +<p>"He is in ward. Courage, señorita! I am here to discover what plans are +laid for you. Does Tuesday hold good yet?"</p> + +<p>"Saturday," she whispered back. "To-morrow. He sent you? You have +contrived to get speech with him?"</p> + +<p>"Nay. Be of good heart, lady, and keep faith. He will break free yet."</p> + +<p>She gave a long sigh. "I have led him to his death."</p> + +<p>Privately Joshua was in complete agreement with her. "It was +noticeable," he said later, "that she seemed to have little idea of +having led me thitherwards. But I let that pass."</p> + +<p>For all his secret convictions, vicarious dignity would not permit him +to let the lady think that she had had any hand in this escapade. His +answering whisper contained some austerity. "I have yet to learn, +señorita, that my master is led by aught save his own inclination. Let +it go. I am avised of your movements; it but remains for me to get +speech with Sir Nicholas."</p> + +<p>Her eyes flickered to his face. "Is it so easy? Can you do it?"</p> + +<p>"It will not be easy," said Joshua severely, "but certainly I shall do +it. Be of good cheer; trust me, and trust my master. No more of this. +Dangerous dealing!" He edged away along the bench, and she was left to +her seeming prayers.</p> + +<p>She was oddly comforted by this talk with Joshua. He spoke with an +assurance he was far from feeling, but she was not to know that. She +might doubt still, but she now had hope, for if Joshua, who knew +Beauvallet so well, could be sanguine, she too, might expect a happy +issue.</p> + +<p>He was not perhaps so sanguine as he chose to appear, but for the +timorous man he declared himself to be, he was very cool. A squalid +tavern in the meaner part of the city now housed him; if he could but +get a sight of his master he would have only one regret, and this the +loss of his brave mustachios.</p> + +<p>"Alack!" he told himself mournfully. "I who was, I believe, a +personable man, now look like some starveling scrivener." He spat +into the kennel. "So much for that. It boots not to bewail my lost +mustachios; they are very decently interred. The loss of a fair beard +I can better support: one may call it a fortune of war. But the +mustachios are another and more serious affair. Something of the cock +of Beauvallet's own, I apprehend. I wore them with a good grace. A +plague on all shaven lips! But this is to talk more and no more. I +do not repine." He walked on towards his lodging. "Now what, I must +ask myself? Do you come out of that stronghold, master? Nay, we must +admit it to be an impossibility." He threw out his chest and strutted +a little. "Ha! A word we do not know. We maybe have some few wiles +left that they may still blear the eyes of these Spanish dawcocks." +He abated his pace and abandoned the swagger. "Yet I own myself to be +very pigeon-livered in this matter. You may say I had his word he would +escape if he were taken. Maybe we brag a little—a very little." He +shook his head slightly. "Master, if I knew of a way—but I make no +doubt a way will present itself to me. I must lie close, as I am bid, +and keep good watch. To do else might be to o'erset deep laid schemes. +Courage, Joshua!"</p> + +<p>The question of Dominica's departure next occupied his busy mind. He +scented mischief there, bristled at it like a dog, and shook his fist +at an imaginary Don Diego. "Mark me well, we will carbonado you finely +yet, Master Hemp-Seed! Sir Nicholas, you would do well to let your +guards taste of your mettle at once, for I mislike the complexion of +this whole matter. Let us consider. How long might a coach take to +reach Vasconosa? The roads are bad. True, but we have had no rain, and +there will be no mud for the coach to founder in. They are to change +horses, as I learn, at every stage. Ten days, maybe, swift going. For +a man riding hard, as we might ride? Ah, that is another and very +different affair." His pace quickened. "There is the question of +horses. We must go privily to work and discover at what stages one can +buy nags upon the road. The plague is on it, I have had to abandon Sir +Nicholas' fine mare. Now, if Sir Nicholas were to appear of a sudden, +as I believe he may do? What will be his cry? Horses, Joshua! True. And +how shall we answer? Certain, it is meet that I lay out some money on a +couple of good nags to be in readiness. Ah, what it is to have a head! +Master, if I but knew where you lie, and how they use you!"</p> + +<p>He would perhaps have been comforted had he known that Sir Nicholas lay +in a very fair apartment, and was most courteously used. He might have +all he wanted for the mere asking.</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal came to visit him each day, and was at pains to be +polite. It was from him that Sir Nicholas learned of the messenger sent +off to France to inquire more particularly into his identity. When he +heard that he gave an irrepressible laugh. Certain, the net was closing +in. Don Cristobal understood the laugh to imply no more than a scornful +amusement, and did not wonder at it. His attitude throughout was of +painstaking civility. The difficulties of his position were felt keenly +by him, and he was anxious that—in the event of the Chevalier coming +off triumphant—his prisoner would have no cause to complain of his +treatment in ward.</p> + +<p>He had many talks with the Chevalier, and the more he saw of him the +more convinced he became that Perinat had made some ridiculous mistake. +Don Cristobal could not conceive that a man who knew himself to be +in such danger could wear so care-free a countenance, or could crack +light-hearted jests at every turn. Some signs of unease there must +surely have been had the man been El Beauvallet indeed. He ventured +upon one occasion to hope that all would go well for the Chevalier, and +hinted at the Inquisition, watching Beauvallet keenly as he spoke.</p> + +<p>He got nothing by that. The black brows flew up in a kind of artless +surprise; the smile only grew the more amused. "<i>Sangdieu!</i>" said +Beauvallet in mock alarm. "I hope so, too!"</p> + +<p>It was very evident that he had no doubts about it. Don Cristobal felt +that he had passed another test satisfactorily.</p> + +<p>The Chevalier soon requested that he might be allowed some exercise. +Don Cristobal had to admit this to be a reasonable desire, and made +arrangements to grant it. Beauvallet was permitted the indulgence of +walking in the courtyard for an hour each day, closely attended by the +two guards who waited on him.</p> + +<p>There was more to this request than a mere desire for exercise. +Sir Nicholas, hurried to the barracks at night, had as yet had no +opportunity to take in his surroundings. To walk in the court would +give him a chance to get a plan of the building in his mind, which was +necessary to a man whose brain was busy all the time with schemes for +escape.</p> + +<p>He knew already, from a glance out of his chamber window, that his +prison was upon the first floor. His window overlooked a quiet street +that was flanked on the opposite side by a blank wall. He wasted very +little time here. Even if the bars across the window had been weak +enough to pull out, the room was too high above the ground for a man to +attempt the drop. Escape did not lie that way.</p> + +<p>When his guards came to escort him out to the court he found that his +room gave on to a stone corridor, or cloister, with tall open arches +overlooking a paved courtyard. The barracks seemed to enclose this +court in a square, and as far as Beauvallet could see the corridor ran +right round, with doors opening off it upon the inner side. A quick +glance up and down as soon as he came out of his room discovered a +spiral stairway to the left, set in the width of the wall where the +corridor turned at right-angles to run along the south side of the +court.</p> + +<p>The guards directed Beauvallet away from this stair, and went with him +down the long corridor to the further corner, and round on to the north +side. Sir Nicholas judged the length of the corridor to be as near +ninety or a hundred feet as made no odds. On the north side was a large +stairway, evidently the principle stair in the building, coming up from +the arched gateway to the soldiers' quarters.</p> + +<p>They went down it, and Sir Nicholas found himself in the open +courtyard, with the sun beating down upon him. To the north an arch led +to the street. There were sentries on guard there. To one side of this +arch was the stairway down which he had come; to the other was a closed +door.</p> + +<p>They paced slowly round the court. The ground floor owned just such +another corridor as was found on the floor above. There was another +storey, Sir Nicholas ascertained, but the corridor was enclosed here, +and had windows set, perhaps, eight feet apart all round the square, +each with its little semi-circular balcony, so typical of the Spanish +house. Above was the flat roof and the chimney-stacks.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas continued his promenade between the two guards, and +chatted amiably with them, as his custom was. They had eyed him in +round-eyed wonder at first, and had been suspicious of him, seeing +under his gay exterior a very dreadful pirate, but those feelings had +not lasted long. It was the opinion of the guards that the pleasant +gentleman was being wrongfully imprisoned. He never gave the least sign +of a wish to escape, was merry in his talk, and, in their eyes, was too +much the gentleman to be an English sea-robber. They were quite willing +to talk to him, and saw no harm in his questions. He displayed a casual +interest in the Guards of Castile, and was surprised to hear how many +of them were gathered in this place. However, it was no wonder, he +supposed, and looked round him appreciatively. "I dare swear you might +house an hundred more in a place this size."</p> + +<p>"Why, señor, if it comes to the pinch, more than that," one of the +soldiers told him, "There are rooms up aloft"—he nodded towards the +second storey—"that stand as bare as my hand."</p> + +<p>The other man was inclined to cavil at this. "Not many more," he said. +"There are the stables, and there have to be rooms set aside for +stores. The place is not so big as would seem, señor. Why, the armoury +alone, over yonder, takes up a great space, and no men housed there, +and you have the guard-room as well upon this level."</p> + +<p>"But you might surely house an hundred upon one side of the building +alone," objected Sir Nicholas. "Four sides—nay, I forget: the gateway +takes away from one side. Three sides, then, all fit to house an +hundred men."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, there are the Governor's quarters to consider," said the +guard.</p> + +<p>"Ah, of course!" said Sir Nicholas blandly. "I had forgot that he lived +here." He looked rueful. "I give him joy of it. For my part, I find it +a dreary place."</p> + +<p>"Well, señor, you are unfortunate," he was told. "The Governor does +well enough, with a very pretty garden to walk in and a score of fine +rooms, I warrant you."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas began to talk of something else. The disposition of the +Governor's quarters and the whereabouts of his garden was all he +wanted to know now, and he would go his own way to work about that. He +complained of the scorching sun, and brought his walk to an end. When +Don Cristobal came to visit him later in the day, and inquired whether +he had taken his exercise, Sir Nicholas thanked him, but believed that +for the future he must confine his walks to the corridor.</p> + +<p>"I find it rather too sunny, señor. Heyday! I would M. de Lauvinière's +messenger might bestir himself a little." He observed Don Cristobal's +troubled look, and smiled. "Nay, do not look so worried, señor. I must +be content with the corridor, and this grim incarceration cannot last +for many weeks."</p> + +<p>"Why, Chevalier, I should be loth—certainly the sun beats down very +hotly. I do not think there could be any objection to your walking in +my garden for a space every day. I will arrange for it."</p> + +<p>"But this is too kind, señor! Indeed, I shall take no hurt in the +corridor. I should not like to trespass into your garden," Beauvallet +said.</p> + +<p>"No trespass, señor. Consider it agreed upon. I am held responsible for +your well-being, and I am assured his Majesty is anxious to make this +unfortunate time as pleasant for you as maybe. Is there aught else I +may do for you?"</p> + +<p>Beauvallet seemed to consider. He drew some coins from his pocket, and +looked at them with a grimace. "Lay that fellow of mine by the heels, +señor, and I shall be much your debtor. But I believe I have enough +to buy me some few things. Of your kindness, señor, some book to help +while away the time. I do not know whether I am permitted to write to +my friends?"</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal hesitated, "With the greatest reluctance, señor, I should +feel myself bound to glance at any messages you may wish to send out of +this place."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you may read all my papers with my very goodwill," Sir Nicholas +told him.</p> + +<p>"I will send you some ink, then, and paper," Don Cristobal promised, +and withdrew.</p> + +<p>Upon the following morning Beauvallet was escorted to the Governor's +quarters, by the stairway he had gone down the day before, and through +the door he had noticed on the opposite side of the arched gateway. +This led into a large hall, furnished very richly with fine hangings +and chairs of Italian <i>intarsia</i> work. Across the hall a door gave on +to a walled garden, shaded by trees, and through this they went.</p> + +<p>Beyond the wall Sir Nicholas judged that there was a street as on his +opposite side of the building. The wall was high, but rough upon the +inner side, with one or two espaliers trained up it. If a man had the +help of a rope he might make shift to scale that wall; at a pinch he +might make the attempt without assistance, but with indifferent hope of +success. There seemed to be no other way into the garden than through +this one door.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas studied the outside of the building closely. Here were +no barred windows, and the side of the house was grown over with a +thick wisteria. A man penetrating into one of the upper rooms on this +side of the building might climb down the wall by the aid of that +wistaria—if it held. So much Sir Nicholas decided; it was little +enough. He went back presently to his prison and sat down by the window +to write an innocent letter to his Andalusian acquaintance.</p> + +<p>It might have been noticed that the Chevalier nearly always sat by the +window, and very often stood looking out on to the street. His guards +made nothing of that. There was little enough to see in the street, +but the poor gentleman had nothing else to interest him, to be sure, +until the Governor sent him a selection of books to read. Even then a +gentleman cannot be reading all the day.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas, watching the street below, did not at first recognize his +swaggering servant in the clean-shaven, demure individual who strolled +slowly along on the opposite side of the road. But his attention was +held by the apparently idle glances this clerk-like person cast up at +the barracks as he came, and he knitted his brows a little.</p> + +<p>Joshua was opposite his window now, and again looked up. The puzzled +frown vanished from Beauvallet's face; he lifted his hand, and Joshua +saw him.</p> + +<p>Joshua cast a glance behind him. There was no one in sight. He stood +still, showing a joyful countenance. Sir Nicholas passed a hand over +his beard, caressed his mustachio tips, and affected an intense grief. +But his shoulders shook.</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Joshua softly. "This is pretty treatment, God wot! Nay, +then, master, have done! Is this the time to make merry? It sorteth +to no good at all. God be thanked you are safe, and in spirits, as +it would seem! What, will you be fleering still?" He shook his head +severely. "I may say you are incorrigible. Now I must tell you some +few things. And how?" He saw a man turn down the corner of the street, +and bent as though to take a stone from his shoe. After that he walked +on until the man had rounded the corner, and then came swiftly back. +It would not do to shout to Sir Nicholas, that was certain. He put his +head on one side and debated. The street was still empty when he came +opposite to Beauvallet's window again, and he began to indulge in a +piece of pantomime for his master's benefit. Don Diego was portrayed by +a mincing step, a sniffing at an imaginary flower, and a flourishing +bow. Sir Nicholas grinned and nodded. Joshua made believe then to throw +himself upon a horse, and to ride off at full speed.</p> + +<p>The play ended he looked up inquiringly. Sir Nicholas was frowning. +He drew a large V in the air, and cocked up an eyebrow. Joshua nodded +vigorously, and made beckoning signs as though to bid his master make +haste.</p> + +<p>That Sir Nicholas understood more or less what he meant to convey was +easy to see. He signed to Joshua to go, and himself fell to pacing the +floor of his room.</p> + +<p>If Dominica had gone already to Vasconosa, as Joshua's play would seem +to indicate, with Don Diego hard on her heels, it looked as though +there was mischief brewing. Sir Nicholas had been content to lie in his +prison till Tuesday, or even later, for there was nothing to be gained +by breaking free while Dominica still lay at Madrid. On the contrary, +there was all to be lost. Once out of prison he must lose no time in +getting out of Spain; there would be no time then for waiting upon his +lady's movements. But this new development changed the complexion of +the affair. Sir Nicholas sat down on the edge of his bed and began +thoughtfully to finger his beard. "'Ware Beauvallet, if you see him at +that trick!" would have said Joshua Dimmock. But the Guards of Castile +were not so familiar with Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's ways.</p> + +<p>His brain began to shape plans, twisting and scheming. If he failed in +his attempt he must stand self-convicted as El Beauvallet. He knew what +to expect then. He shrugged his shoulders and lifted his pomander to +his nose.</p> + +<p>Sniffing at it he evolved his plan. It was sufficiently desperate +to appeal to that lively sense of humour in him. "Come, Nick!" he +apostrophised himself. "Let us take <i>Reck Not</i> for our watchword yet +once again. It has not been known to fail us yet. But I am sorry for +that sentry."</p> + +<p>By which it may be seen that Sir Nicholas counted the sentry outside +his door a dead man already.</p> + +<p>He moved to the table, and wrote three lines to Joshua. They were quite +simple.</p> + +<p>"<i>Be ready to-morrow evening with a rope outside the wall on the +opposite side of the building to this. When you hear my whistle, cast +it across and hold tightly.</i>"</p> + +<p>This he twisted into a screw and put away in his bosom. Upon the +following morning Joshua walked down the street again. The screw of +paper went fluttering down from Beauvallet's window, and was swiftly +pounced on.</p> + +<p>Joshua went back to his tavern strutting light-heartedly.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Ever since the first day of his imprisonment Sir Nicholas had been +waited on always by two men. Never one came without the other, and +although, gradually, this precaution had become little more than a form +it was still observed. Sir Nicholas pulled a wry face over it. Truly +they held him to be a desperate man since they kept a sentry outside +his room, and dared not send a single armed man to take his meals to +him. Well, they were right, but he thought he had successfully lulled +their fears. For his escape to have the smallest chance of success one +of those men must be got out of the room. All hung on that; if one man +could not be induced to leave the room torture and the fire awaited Sir +Nicholas, as he very well knew.</p> + +<p>He had chosen his time carefully, and knew that he could trust +Joshua to do his part. Every evening at dusk supper was brought to +Sir Nicholas from the Governor's kitchens. The cook was at pains to +please the unwilling guest, for there was still enough money left in +Beauvallet's pockets to provide a sufficient incentive. The cook, +receiving a double ducat, sent with a compliment, vowed the Chevalier +was a true gentleman, and devised subtleties for his delectation.</p> + +<p>Upon the day chosen by Sir Nicholas for his attempt at escape, his +two gaolers came a little late with his supper. One of them, the +senior, had charge of the key of his room, and always locked the door +punctiliously upon the inside when he entered, and continued to hold +the key in his hand while his fellow set covers on the table and lit +the candles.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas had a high-backed chair with arms and a velvet seat to sit +in, but he was not sitting in it when the two soldiers entered. He was +standing near the window, leaning his shoulders against the wall, and +whistling a cheerful tune to himself.</p> + +<p>"I thought I was to be starved," he remarked, and came lounging over to +the table and sat himself down on the arm of his chair, idly swinging +one foot.</p> + +<p>The chief gaoler smiled indulgently. "No, no, señor. It is only that +the cook spoiled one of the dishes—or rather, I should say, that one +of the scullions, left to stir it, let it burn a little—and the whole +had to be made again."</p> + +<p>The other man was busy shaking out a cloth and spreading it over the +table. Sir Nicholas sniffed the air. "Well, it hath a very savoury +odour," he said. "Let us see the <i>chef d'œuvre</i>."</p> + +<p>The knife was set, a bottle of wine placed carefully beside the cup at +Beauvallet's elbow, and a shining cover lifted with a flourish.</p> + +<p>"Marvellous!" said Sir Nicholas. He still sat negligently on the arm of +his chair, sideways to the table. "Present my compliments to the cook." +He stretched out his hand for the bottle, while the soldier took salt +and pepper from the tray he had brought, and put them on the table. He +poured out a cupful of the wine, and raised it with a little laugh. +"Tell the cook I drink his very good health!" he said, and made as if +to toss off the wine. But that fine gesture was stayed before he had +done more than taste it. The cup left his lips; he pulled a grimace. +"My very dear friends!" he said. "What's this? Do you seek to poison +me? What have you brought me here?"</p> + +<p>The soldiers stared at him. "<i>Madre de Dios</i>, señor, there is no +thought of poisoning you!" said one of them, shocked.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas smiled. "I did but jest. But you have brought me a very +vile potion, none the less. Let me have another bottle, my good fellow. +Take this away."</p> + +<p>The chief frowned upon his subordinate, shifting the blame from off his +own shoulders. "Dolt! Take up the bottle! What, do you bring the señor +bad wine? Pardon, señor! an oversight. The cup, fool! take away the cup +and bring a clean one back!" He hustled his protesting fellow towards +the door.</p> + +<p>"It was you chose the wine," grumbled the unfortunate.</p> + +<p>"You confused the bottles," the other said hastily. "Get you gone, get +you gone! Will you have the señor's supper grow cold?"</p> + +<p>"You have the key," his subordinate pointed out. "I did not confuse the +bottles, I tell you. You yourself——"</p> + +<p>"A'God's mercy, have done!" struck in Sir Nicholas curtly. "I care not +who made the mistake so long as you bring me a fresh bottle."</p> + +<p>"On the instant, señor!" his gaoler assured him, responding +instinctively to the voice of authority. He unlocked the door, pushed +the wine-bearer out, and slammed the door again behind him, once more +locking it.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas' lashes drooped over his eyes, hiding the sudden gleam in +them. The departing soldier had not taken the key with him. "Put the +cover over this very choice dish again, my man," said Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, señor!" The man picked it up and came all unsuspecting to +the table.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas' hand had left playing with his pomander; his foot had +stopped its gentle swinging, and the toe of it was firm-planted on the +floor. The soldier bent to put the cover over the dish on the table.</p> + +<p>Even as his hand left the cover, and he was about to step back, Sir +Nicholas made his spring, a clean, lithe spring, noiseless and sure. +Before the soldier realized what had happened a pair of iron hands were +choking him into insensibility, and he was half-flung, half-lifted +backwards on to the bed behind him. Sir Nicholas' knee was over his +dagger; he could not reach it. He could make no sound; he could only +tear fruitlessly at the merciless fingers that were grasping his +throat. His eyes started horribly, glaring up into Sir Nicholas' face: +the last thing he was conscious of was the brightness of the blue eyes +above him and the grim smile that curled Sir Nicholas' lips.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas' hands left the bruised throat; he stepped to the table, +caught up the napkin laid ready there, and tied it expeditiously round +the unconscious man's mouth. The dagger was drawn from its sheath, the +key picked up from the floor where it had fallen. Holding the dagger in +his right hand, Sir Nicholas went with a firm tread to the door, fitted +the key in the lock, turned it, and opened the door.</p> + +<p>Outside the sentry stood, leaning on his halberd. Some instinct must +have warned him of danger, for even as the door opened he turned his +head sharply to see who came. He had only time to let out a startled +cry, but that second's mischance brought an oath to Beauvallet's lips. +The dagger went home between neck and shoulder, and the sentry seemed +to crumple up where he stood.</p> + +<p>But the one cry, shrill as it was, was like to ruin all. An answering +shout sounded, and from the main stairway a man came running.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas wrenched the dagger free, and was gone in a flash towards +the south side of the building. His intention had been to get round +on this side to the Governor's quarters, but now, with the alarm +given, and men running to the pursuit, this was clearly impossible. He +bounded up the spiral stairway at the junction of the corridors, and +found himself in a similar passage to the one below, except that it +was walled in, with embrasured windows over which hung heavy curtains, +giving on to the court below. A cresset hung at the top of the stairs, +and threw a feeble light; there was another in the middle of the +corridor to his left.</p> + +<p>Below there was the sound of running feet, shouts, and the clatter of +pikes. Sir Nicholas sent a quick look round, and his eye alighted on a +stout oak chest standing against the wall. He stepped quickly forward; +there was a heave and a thrust, and the chest went crashing down the +stair on top of the foremost man who was running up. The chest jammed +tight on the turn of the stair; there was a furious oath, clatter, and +confusion. The first of the pursuers went tumbling backwards into the +arms of the man behind him, who, in his turn, lost his balance under +the sudden impact and fell heavily.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas laughed out at that, and having seen his chest securely +wedged, turned. He had not the least idea what he was going to do +next, and he rather thought that he was trapped, but his eyes were +fairly blazing with sheer joy of action, and a smile of amusement was +on his lips.</p> + +<p>Footsteps and voices sounded on the main stair at the other end of the +quadrangle. Sir Nicholas stayed, poised on his toes, waiting to see +which way these pursuers would come. They rounded the far corner of the +eastern corridor, where he stood, some three or four soldiers running +with halberds levelled. Sir Nicholas sprang to the left, and was off +down the southern passage, making for the Governor's quarters on the +western side.</p> + +<p>He had almost reached the corner when he checked suddenly, and cast a +quick glance round him for some way of escape. Ahead of him, down the +western corridor, perilously close, was coming the thud of heavy feet, +running fast. He was indeed trapped.</p> + +<p>Another moment and the men behind him would have rounded the corner, +and would have him in view again. Sir Nicholas made for the end window +on this side, slipped into the embrasure, and drew the heavy curtains +to behind him.</p> + +<p>The window opened on to its little railed balcony; Sir Nicholas stepped +out, soft-footed, and cast a glance down into the court below. It was +too dark to distinguish forms, but he could hear voices, and knew that +there were soldiers gathered there.</p> + +<p>He thrust the dagger through his belt, tested the iron railing a moment +with his hand, and peered through the gloom for the first balcony on +the western side. He could just distinguish it. One moment he measured +the distance; then he set his foot on the railing and came lightly up +with a hand on the wall to steady himself. Judging by the sounds, the +men running down the western corridor had now reached the corner. Sir +Nicholas gathered himself together, and jumped like a diver, head first +for the next balcony. His hands just caught its railing; he hung there +a moment, panting, put forth a great effort, and hoisted himself up. +He had a leg over the rail in a minute, and the next instant he had +disappeared in at the window.</p> + +<p>He found himself in a deserted passage. Down the corner along which +he had come were pelting the soldiers; in another moment they would +collide with the other party whom Sir Nicholas had first seen. There +would be more talk of witchcraft after this night's work, thought Sir +Nicholas, and grinned appreciatively. Each of those converging parties +were convinced they had the escaped prisoner trapped; they were very +shortly to discover that El Beauvallet had once more lived up to his +reputation, and this time had vanished, to all appearances, into thin +air. El Beauvallet kissed his fingers in the wake of the zealous +guards, and made for the first door he could see.</p> + +<p>It was unlocked. He went in cautiously, and found himself in an empty +bedchamber, poorly furnished, and with one small cresset lamp burning +over the mantelpiece. It was probably some tirewoman's chamber, he +thought. He closed the door softly behind him, and went to the window. +It stood open, looking on to the garden. Sir Nicholas swung one leg +over the sill, feeling for a foothold. The wistaria brushed his leg; he +found a branch, swung the other leg over, caught at the thick tendrils, +and went sliding, scrambling down to the balcony immediately below, +upon the first storey. The wistaria tore away from the wall, but he +reached to safety. He had one leg over the balcony rail, one hand +feeling for a hold on the creeper, when there came a noise to make him +draw back quickly.</p> + +<p>The door leading into the garden from the hall below was flung open; +there was the flare of a torch, and a voice said clearly: "Two of you +keep guard lest he try to escape this way."</p> + +<p>Without a moment's hesitation Sir Nicholas slipped in at the open +window behind him.</p> + +<p>The curtains were slightly parted, and a soft light shone through. Sir +Nicholas, keeping against the dark background of the curtain, peeped +in. The room was empty; Sir Nicholas went in and pulled the curtains to +behind him.</p> + +<p>"God's Life!" he muttered ruefully. "Where am I now?"</p> + +<p>He stood in a large bedchamber, which was furnished in a massive style, +with a great four-posted bed hung with curtains of velvet, a chest of +inlay work, a table, chairs, and a hanging cupboard against the wall. +There was a door opposite the window and even as Sir Nicholas went +towards it footsteps sounded outside, and a hand was laid on the latch. +Sir Nicholas drew swiftly back to the bed and slipped behind the heavy +curtains.</p> + +<p>The door opened; someone came in with a quick step, went to the table, +and pulled a drawer out in it. There was a rustle of paper; Sir +Nicholas parted the curtain and saw a man standing with his back to +him, hurriedly turning over papers in the drawer. He was cloaked, and +wore a large capotain hat with a drooping plume in it. At his side, +hitching up the long folds of the cloak, hung a rapier.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch, cat-like, Sir Nicholas came towards him. A board creaked +suddenly under his foot; the cloaked man turned sharply, and as he +turned Beauvallet's fist shot out. The man fell without a sound, and +Sir Nicholas saw that he had knocked out no less a personage than Don +Cristobal de Porres, Governor of the Guards.</p> + +<p>"God save the mark, my noble gaoler!" said Sir Nicholas, and stepped +over Porres' prostrate form to the door. He shut it, cast a quick +glance at the limp figure, and went to the bed. With one eye watchfully +upon the Governor he slit the fine brocade coverlet into strips with +his dagger, and came back to kneel beside the still form.</p> + +<p>"Nay, but I am sorry for this, my poor friend," he said, and stuffed +one of his strips into Don Cristobal's slack mouth. Another, torn +across was tied hastily round to keep the rude gag in place. He +unclasped the cloak from about Don Cristobal's neck, and the gleaming +collar of the Golden Fleece met his eyes. Off it came; Sir Nicholas +gave a tiny chuckle. "My dear friend," said he, "I believe this may +stand me in very good stead. You shall not grudge it me." He fastened +the collar round his own neck, unbuckled the baldrick that held the +Governor's rapier, and neatly bound the unfortunate man's ankles and +wrists. As he tied the last knot Don Cristobal stirred, and opened his +eyes. They fell on Beauvallet, seemed bewildered at first, and then as +full consciousness returned, furious.</p> + +<p>"I know, I know," said Sir Nicholas. "I am sorry for it, señor, but +you will admit I am hard-pressed." His eyes twinkled. "A churlish +return for all your kindness, Don Cristobal, and I would not have +had you think El Beauvallet so ungrateful a dog." He saw the look +of consternation leap into the Governor's face, and laughed. "Oh +yes, señor, I am El Beauvallet." As he spoke he was buckling the +rich baldrick about his waist. "Señor, I must stow you away. Keep my +sword in exchange for this of yours; it is a rare blade, and you may +say with truth that you were the only man who ever took aught from +Nick Beauvallet against his will. Now, señor, if you please." He had +opened the door of the cupboard, and now he bundled Don Cristobal into +it, and shut the door upon him. He picked up the cloak, fastened it +about his shoulders, and disposed its ample folds about his person. +The Governor's lace handkerchief and long cane lay on the floor; Sir +Nicholas gathered them up, set the broad-brimmed hat well over his +eyes, thanked God for a beard and a pair of mustachios very like Don +Cristobal's, and walked to the door. As he laid his hand on the latch +there was a scratching on one of the panels, and a man's voice called: +"Señor, the coach waits."</p> + +<p>"In a very good hour!" thought Sir Nicholas. "God send I may brazen +this out. I thank my luck that the light is behind me. Forward, El +Beauvallet!" He opened the door, and went calmly out into the passage.</p> + +<p>A servant stood there; Sir Nicholas could not see his features plainly +in the dim light of the passage, and hoped that his own were as well +hid. He closed the door behind him, and motioned the servant to go +before. The man bowed, and went ahead at once.</p> + +<p>Along the passage they walked to the stairs at the end. The servant +stood aside there for Sir Nicholas to pass. Sir Nicholas went down the +stairs unhurriedly and crossed the hall at the bottom.</p> + +<p>The front door was held open by a lackey, who stared to see his master +coming so unconcernedly. He ventured to speak. "Señor—the lieutenant +has just gone into the library in search of you. You have not heard, +señor—the prisoner has escaped!"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas raised the handkerchief to his lips and coughed. Through +the cough he said in as fair an imitation of Don Cristobal's voice as +he could assume: "He is taken. The sergeant has my instructions."</p> + +<p>He went past the lackey as he spoke, but he knew that the man was +surprised, perhaps even suspicious, and there was not a moment to be +lost. A coach with plumes upon the roof and curtains hung at the sides +stood waiting. He got in. "I am late. Drive fast."</p> + +<p>The coachman was agog with excitement. "Señor, the prisoner——"</p> + +<p>"The prisoner is safe!" said Sir Nicholas. "Drive on!"</p> + +<p>The coachman gathered up the reins; the horses' hooves clattered on the +paving-stones; the coach moved slowly forward under the arch towards +the open gates.</p> + +<p>The lackey at the door ran after. "Señor, the lieutenant——"</p> + +<p>"To hell with the lieutenant!" said Sir Nicholas. "Drive on!"</p> + +<p>The coach rumbled out of the gate and turned at right angles into the +street.</p> + +<p>The lieutenant, Cruza, hurrying out of the house, was just in time to +see it disappear round the corner. "What—the Governor!" he cried.</p> + +<p>The lackey rubbed his perplexed head. "Señor, the Governor would not +wait. He sounded very hasty, and unlike himself."</p> + +<p>"The Governor would not wait?" Cruza stared uncomprehendingly.</p> + +<p>There came a shout from within. "Stop that man! Stop that man! The +Governor is here, gagged and bound! <i>Stop that man!</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Sangre de Dios</i>, he is away!" cried the lieutenant, and went bounding +out through the archway. "For your lives after that coach!" he shot at +the sentries. "The prisoner is in it! Off with you!"</p> + +<p>But when two labouring soldiers came up with the slow-moving coach +there was no one inside. El Beauvallet had vanished.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Outside the wall that enclosed the Governor's garden Joshua waited, +safe in the shadows. He had a coil of rope in his hand, and had hitched +his dagger round so that he might easily come at it. He shivered from +time to time, started at small noises, and was finely scared by a +marauding black cat. Recovering from this fright he watched the cat +slink off, and was moved to shake his fist at it. "What, you doxy! +You'll creep up to give me a fright, will you? You may thank my need +for quiet that I do not spit you on the end of my knife." The cat +disappeared over the wall. "Ay, over you go, featly as you please, upon +your naughty business," said Joshua bitterly. "If a man might get over +that wall so easily I should be the better pleased." He set himself to +listen again, but could hear only the rustle of the light wind through +the trees. "Can he make it?" muttered Joshua. "I do not doubt, no, but +I confess I shall be the more at ease when I see you safe beside me, +master. Ha, what's this?"</p> + +<p>He listened intently, heard the sound of voices on the other side, but +could not catch what was said. A door slammed, he heard the gravel +scrunch under a heavy boot, a sound as of a grounded halberd, and a +murmur of voices.</p> + +<p>Dismay consumed him; he was in a fret to be gone from his post, to be +up and doing, at least to know more. If Sir Nicholas had broken free +he could never escape this way, with men posted in the garden. And +how to warn him? Joshua wrung his hands in impotent despair. "God's +me, God's me, this is to ruin all! I am in no doubt now that you have +broken free, master, but why so slow? Ah, why, why? You will walk into +this trap. This is not Mad Nick's way to let others be before him. +What mischance? Trapped, trapped!" He looked right and left. "To warn +you—think, Joshua, think! I am no loose-living cat to go jumping +walls." He bit his nails in a frenzy, glanced up at the wall, shook his +head hopelessly. "Naught to do but to wait. But if he hath broken loose +what makes he there? Will he fall upon these men in the garden? What, +weaponless to pit his strength against I know not how many men with +pikes? And here stand I mammering! Nor dare do else!"</p> + +<p>He stood still, listening, sweating, dreading at once the sound of a +capture in the garden, and the approach of some loiterer, or, worse, a +guard in the street.</p> + +<p>He stiffened suddenly, and peered into the darkness. A light step +sounded, approaching fast. He began to walk away down the street, as +though bound upon some errand.</p> + +<p>The footsteps were coming closer, rapidly overhauling him. He stole a +hand to his dagger, and went steadily on his way. If this was a guard +he was coming on his death.</p> + +<p>He was overtaken, felt a grip on his shoulder, and spun round, dagger +out. A hand caught his wrist in mid-air, and held it clamped hard. +"Death on thy soul, Joshua! learn to know your master!" hissed Sir +Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Joshua almost fell to his knees. "Master! Safe! safe!" he whispered +ecstatically.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am safe, fat-wit. Put up that knife. A horse is all my +need."</p> + +<p>"Said I not so!" Joshua was moved to kiss his hand. "Said I, what will +be my master's cry? Why, what but Horses, Joshua! They are hard by, +sir, saddled and ready."</p> + +<p>"God 'ild you, then. Lead me to them. The hunt is up in good sooth, and +we must win clear away to-night." He gave a little chuckle. "A rare +night's work! Where's my lady?"</p> + +<p>"Gone these four days, master, and that squirting ahead of her." Joshua +led him down a side-alley, walking fast. "I had speech with the noble +lady, and bade her be of good cheer, and keep faith. Then I saw her +leave Madrid with the old lady, and learned they were to waste no time +upon the journey. I warrant I have been about the town a little! How +came you out of that hold, master?"</p> + +<p>He was told, very briefly, and rubbed his hands over it. "Ay, that is +the way it goes. Ho-ho, they have our measure now, if they had it not +before! But I submit, master that we have to consider a little. Having +lost their prisoner what will they do?"</p> + +<p>"Send hot-foot to the Frontier, and the ports," said Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"True, master, and we take the Frontier road as far as Burgos." He +shook his head. "Still very barful. But we will not be amort. We have +the start of them, and they will not look for us at Vasconosa. Tarry +here awhile, sir. No need to show yourself." He had stopped at a street +turning. "I go to fetch the horses."</p> + +<p>He was back soon with two fine jennets, each with a light pack strapped +to the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Boots, man!" said Sir Nicholas. "Have you my sword safe?"</p> + +<p>"Never doubt me, sir!" said Joshua complacently, unbuckling a pack. +"Your boots are at hand. I have thought of everything. I am not one to +be bestraught by disaster." He unearthed a pair of top-boots, caught up +the shoon Sir Nicholas had kicked off, and stowed them away.</p> + +<p>The long boots were pulled on, the spurs swiftly fastened. Sir Nicholas +vaulted lightly into the saddle. "On then, my Joshua!" He laughed, and +Joshua saw that his eyes were alight. "A race for life this time!" he +said, wheeled about, and drove in his heels.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The two sentries came panting back to the barracks, and to Cruza, +feverishly awaiting them. "Gone, señor!" they gasped.</p> + +<p>"Fools! Dolts! He was in that coach!"</p> + +<p>"He was gone, señor."</p> + +<p>Cruza fell back. "Holy Virgin, witchcraft!" He hurried in to where his +superior waited. Don Cristobal, unbound now, shaken, but composed, +received him with a questioning lift of the brows.</p> + +<p>"Señor, he was not in the coach when the guards came up with it. It is +witchcraft, foul devil's work!"</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal smiled contemptuously. "If you would say we have been +finely tricked you speak nothing but the truth," he said acidly. "Would +he sit still in the coach to await capture? Turn out the guard!"</p> + +<p>Cruza shot an order to a goggle-eyed sergeant, waiting close by. +"Señor, can it be that it is El Beauvallet indeed?"</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal slightly rubbed his bruised wrists. "He did me the honour +of telling me so with his own lips," he said. He moved to the table, +and dipped a quill in the inkhorn. "One man to take this writing to Don +Luis de Fermosa, to request him order out the alguazils to search the +town. The prisoner cannot have gone far."</p> + +<p>Cruza wrinkled his brow at that. "Señor, will he not make for the +Frontier?"</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal dusted his paper with sand, and read it over before he +answered. As he folded and sealed it he said calmly:—"He must procure +a horse for that, Cruza, and we know that he has no money." He gave the +paper into his lieutenant's hands, and turned to his valet. "A hat and +a cloak, Juan."</p> + +<p>The valet hurried away. Cruza ventured another question. "Señor, where +do you go?"</p> + +<p>"To the Alcazar," replied the Governor. "To learn his Majesty's +pleasure in this matter."</p> + +<p>Access to Philip was at first denied him. The King was private in his +closet, and would see no one. A word in the King's valet's ear produced +the required effect. That privileged person went off in a hurry, and +presently Don Cristobal was summoned to the presence.</p> + +<p>The news had been told Philip, but he displayed his habitual equanimity +to Don Cristobal, deeply bowing before him. He let his apathetic gaze +run over the Governor, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Sire"—Don Cristobal made the shortest work he could of it—"I have to +inform your Majesty, to my shame, that my prisoner has escaped."</p> + +<p>Philip folded his cool hands. "This is a very strange thing that you +tell me, Don Cristobal."</p> + +<p>The Governor flushed. "I do not know what to say, sire. I am myself +overwhelmed."</p> + +<p>"Compose yourself. When did the prisoner escape?"</p> + +<p>"Not an hour ago, sire. He overpowered the guard who brought his supper +to him, stabbed the sentry without; by some means unknown to me slipped +through the hands of two parties of guards who thought they had him +trapped between them, and by means equally unknown to me reached my own +chamber. I, entering and knowing nothing of the affair, was taken by +surprise, sire." His hand went involuntarily to the bruise on his chin. +"The prisoner struck me down, sire, before I was aware, and when I +came to myself I was gagged and bound upon the floor. The prisoner put +on him my hat and cloak, my insignia of the Golden Fleece, my sword, +and thus disguised, sire, went down to the coach that waited to take +me to the house of a friend. My lieutenant, suspecting some mischief, +sent after the coach hot-foot, but when the guards came up with it the +prisoner had vanished."</p> + +<p>Silence fell. The lids dropped over Philip's eyes, hiding whatever +chagrin or anger he might be feeling. After a pause he raised them +again. It was characteristic of him that he chose to dwell upon one of +the smaller points of the matter. "This would seem to show that he is +El Beauvallet, by his own confession," he said weightily.</p> + +<p>"Sire, the prisoner spoke his name out boldly to me. He said, sire, +when he took my sword from me, that I might keep his in exchange, and +boast that I was the only man who ever took aught from El Beauvallet +against his will."</p> + +<p>There was another pause. "He must be captured," said the King at +length, and struck a silver handbell at his side.</p> + +<p>"Remembering, sire, that he has no money wherewith to buy him a horse, +and must therefore be hiding in Madrid, I sent at once to Fermosa to +request him to search the town."</p> + +<p>Philip inclined his head. "You did well, señor."</p> + +<p>A man came in, and stood attentively at the King's elbow. Philip was +already writing a laborious memorandum. His pen moved unhurriedly. He +remarked without raising his eyes from the paper: "Yet so desperate a +man as this might not hesitate to steal a horse. A runner must be sent +to the Frontier."</p> + +<p>From what he had seen of Beauvallet Don Cristobal did not think that he +would hesitate for a moment. "With submission, sire, I would suggest +that a runner be sent to the ports, in especial Vigo and Santander."</p> + +<p>"Runners will be sent at once," said Philip calmly, "to all the ports +with orders to the Alcaldes to apprehend this man. But we shall do well +to remember, Don Cristobal, that we have to do with one who has evil +arts at command."</p> + +<p>Whatever doubts Don Cristobal might cherish as to Beauvallet's supposed +wizardry he merely bowed his head respectfully.</p> + +<p>Father Allen, until now a silent listener over against the window, came +forward. "Your Majesty has forgotten that there is the servant to be +reckoned with."</p> + +<p>The King's brain did not work fast, but it never forgot. "The servant +fled, Father," he said positively.</p> + +<p>Father Allen bowed. "So we were led to believe, sire."</p> + +<p>Philip had to digest this. A shade of annoyance crossed his face. +"I cannot think that I have been well-served in this," he said, and +motioned to the secretary to write at his dictation.</p> + +<p>The various despatches were at last ready; messengers were to ride to +the Frontier, and to any port of size. Through the length and breadth +of Spain would run the news that a famous pirate was at large. Philip +leaned back in his chair with a thin-lipped smile of satisfaction. +"He will run into a net," he said with unwonted urbanity. "We shall +presently draw the strings tight."</p> + +<p>This was all very well, but there were others who did not share the +King's optimism. Perinat, when he heard next day of the escape, fairly +danced with mortification, and predicted disaster to an awestruck +circle.</p> + +<p>"To hold him and to let him slip through the fingers!" raved Perinat. +"He should have been shackled and handcuffed, and never left! What do +you know of him? Nothing! I knew, ah, I knew! but I was not heeded. Oh +devil and fiend! oh warlock, you are away yet once again!"</p> + +<p>Noveli cut into this impassioned outburst. "He cannot get away. Every +port will be stopped, and none allowed to set sail on any vessel. The +Frontier will be barred before he can reach it, and even if it were not +you forget that he has no pass."</p> + +<p>Perinat pointed a prophetic finger. "You may stop the ports, you may +bar the Frontier, but he will slip through your guards, and laugh at +you as he does so! Ah, to have had him, and to let him go!" His fierce +gaze swept the group. "The ports! the Frontier! Why came he into Spain? +Heard you not the true reason from Carvalho's lips? Where is Doña +Dominica de Rada?"</p> + +<p>"Why, on the road to Vasconosa," said someone. "But——"</p> + +<p>"Then let the King send there for him!" said Perinat. "And still he +will be too late! The villain's away, I tell you!"</p> + +<p>Another gentleman came to join the group, one whose eyes were restless +and uneasy, and whose fingers twitched rather nervously. Don Rodriguez +de Carvalho, on whom the news had fallen like a thunderbolt, was in a +sorry case. Sharing to the full the popular dread of El Beauvallet, +he did not know what to do. He feared for his son's life, he feared +for his niece's safety, and he dared not divulge Beauvallet's probable +destination for fear of implicating Dominica, and seeing her and her +wealth swallowed up by the Holy Inquisition. He came now, fussy and +fidgeting, to hear what was being said of the escape, and was in time +to catch Perinat's last words.</p> + +<p>Perinat pounced on him at once. "Ah, in a good hour, Carvalho! Tell me, +will not this pirate be after your niece?"</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez looked startled. He stammered:—"I do not think +it—I cannot suppose it. She was resolute in denying him. Maybe we +mistake—what should El Beauvallet hope to make in Spain?"</p> + +<p>"He is self-declared," interposed Aranda, "That evening when I first +met him he dared to speak his own name! Do you remember, Losa? He said +that if El Beauvallet stood where he stood then he would still laugh. +What impudence! What daring! One gasps at it."</p> + +<p>Perinat, obsessed by the one idea, brushed this aside. "You waste time! +The King should be told of this. It is for you, Carvalho, to warn him."</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez hesitated and was lost. "If you think it wise, señors.... +But I cannot agree with you. I cannot suppose that my niece would +suffer him. She is head-strong indeed, but she does not forget—in +short, señors, if El Beauvallet seeks her indeed it is against her +will."</p> + +<p>"Against her will when she declared she knew him not?" burst out +Perinat. "The girl's besotted!"</p> + +<p>Losa lifted a finger to silence Perinat. "I think that the King should +be told that Doña Dominica de Rada is on her way to Vasconosa, and that +El Beauvallet may well be on her heels," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, señor, well.... If you do not think it is to waste his Majesty's +time," Don Rodriguez said unhappily.</p> + +<p>He went to the King, and found Don Cristobal de Porres there, +announcing failure to find El Beauvallet in Madrid. He blurted out his +mission as best he could, and was at pains to tell the King that he +himself was no believer in the wild tale.</p> + +<p>Philip gave it his slow consideration. The first thing he said +was:—"If this is so it casts grave doubts on Doña Dominica's faith. +This must be looked into. Why was I am not told that Doña Dominica had +left Madrid?"</p> + +<p>Don Rodriguez made haste to say that he had come with the news the +instant he had heard of El Beauvallet's escape.</p> + +<p>Followed a lengthy conference. Slowly, methodically Philip pieced the +whole thing together in his careful head, and when that was done turned +to Porres, who was fretting to set matters in train. "We shall entrust +this charge to you, señor," he said.</p> + +<p>Don Cristobal bowed. "I thank your Majesty. I will have a party ride +north at once. Give me leave to withdraw, sire!"</p> + +<p>Philip waved him away; the Governor kissed his hand, went out sedately +backwards, but once clear of the King's closet wasted no time.</p> + +<p>A party of guards was despatched within half an hour, with orders to +spare neither themselves nor their horses, but at all costs to reach +Vasconosa ahead of El Beauvallet. Changes of horses they must have, and +could get easily enough at the various post-stages; or if none were to +be had there they were on the King's business, and might commandeer +what mounts they pleased. Cruza, burning to capture the man who had +slipped so easily through his fingers, was sent in charge of the little +party, and swore to bring the pirate back in bonds. There would be +little rest allowed to Cruza's men on this wild ride north.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The big coach that bore Dominica away from Madrid pushed northwards +with what speed it could make. Four horses dragged it, and these were +changed at every post. For a lady of such natural indolence Doña +Beatrice moved swiftly when she chose to move at all.</p> + +<p>The coach was decked with plumes upon the roof, hung with leather +curtains that could be fastened at will, and fitted with padded +seats of red velvet. The body was of the newest kind, slung on stout +leather straps, which helped to ease the discomfort of the journey. +It was roomy enough to accommodate not only the two ladies, but their +tirewomen as well, and a number of packages and bags. Behind it came +lackeys with led sumpters; beside it rode guards of the Carvalho +household, decked out in their master's livery, making a brave show of +it on this journey through the country. Dominica, listlessly regarding +this cavalcade, reflected that if her aunt feared to be overtaken by El +Beauvallet she had a very ample guard to protect her from this one man.</p> + +<p>Changes of horses had been bespoken beforehand at each stage. None but +the strongest Flemish horses were harnessed to the equipage, and these +great powerful beasts drew them rapidly on their way.</p> + +<p>The post-road was full of pot-holes, and deep ruts, hard-baked by the +sun; at times it was a mere track across the plain, at others it became +a rocky mountain pass, where the number of horses had to be doubled to +drag the coach up. They slept at inns along the road, but the coach +never stopped until it was too dark to go further, and it was off again +betimes in the morning. When Dominica wearily asked the reason of such +insensate haste her aunt only smiled, and said:—"When I rouse myself +to undertake such a disagreeable journey as this, my dear, I waste no +time over it."</p> + +<p>The lady beguiled much of the tedium of the journey by sly references +to Beauvallet, left behind them. She veiled her words, out of +consideration of the listening tirewomen, but Dominica was never in any +doubt as to her meaning.</p> + +<p>Dominica, jolted and bumped in her corner of the coach was not at a +loss for suitable answers. They came out very pat, and had an edge to +them. Doña Beatrice chuckled softly, and pinched the girl's cheek, not +at all ruffled.</p> + +<p>This cat-and-mouse play was not to be borne. Dominica made a bid for +freedom, and announced her wish to ride part of the way. To sit in a +bumping, lurching coach, she said, day upon day, irked her sorely. With +her aunt's good leave she would have a horse saddled for her on the +morrow, and ride for at least an hour or two.</p> + +<p>"How restless you are, my dear!" remarked Doña Beatrice. "By all means +do as you please. Young blood cannot be still? But I do not know that it +is at all seemly."</p> + +<p>"There will be none to see me, aunt, and I have not been used to be +cooped up," Dominica said.</p> + +<p>"True," agreed Doña Beatrice, and disposed herself to slumber.</p> + +<p>On the morrow it was so ordered. Dominica came down from her chamber +at the inn in riding-dress, fully prepared to fight for the privilege +she claimed. However, there was no need. Doña Beatrice merely said that +it was a pity Don Diego was not there to act as escort, and told a +groom to stay near his young mistress.</p> + +<p>Dominica carried a heavy heart in her breast, but could still enjoy +this spell of exercise and of freedom. There had been little enough +riding for her since she had come back to Spain. She remembered long +gallops at Santiago, and knew a little of the same joyous feeling of +freedom as she had had there. She rode well, had no fear, and led the +groom a fine chase at a full gallop. She reined in at last, flushed and +wind-tossed, breathed her horse a moment, and went cantering back to +meet the lumbering coach.</p> + +<p>Her aunt had had the curtains drawn back, and greeted her with a +quizzical look. "You are a very Diana, my dear. Were you riding to +escape from me?"</p> + +<p>Dominica tucked an escaped curl back under her French hood. "No, +señora, I doubt it would be of no avail," she said frankly.</p> + +<p>She came presently to sit in the coach again, but thereafter it was +understood that when my lady willed it so she would ride, and there was +always to be a horse procured for her.</p> + +<p>Away from her aunt's side she had leisure to indulge her thoughts. They +could not be pleasant. Not even Joshua's stout optimism could allay her +fears. She felt herself to be a traitress, flying from Beauvallet in +his hour of need, yet Joshua had seemed to think she did well to go, +and indeed what could she do by remaining, even had it been possible? +If they had chosen to interrogate her she would have fought with all +her woman's wit for Beauvallet, but they had not chosen. Oh, if she +were a man she would fight for him in other ways than that! Her eyes +kindled to the thought, and her hand clenched on her whip.</p> + +<p>If she could believe that Sir Nicholas would escape she might play +with the fancy of him in pursuit, even now as she rode from him. She +imagined him hard on her heels, spurring on and on, riding down this +stately equipage. She could imagine how his sword would flash out, how +he would snatch her up, and ride off with her, laughing, triumphant. +She had to shake the tears from her eyes; the gay lover was caught and +prisoned, and would no more come riding to win her.</p> + +<p>They came within a stage of Vasconosa upon the tenth day. The labouring +lackeys swore softly against such haste. "One would say the devil was +on our heels."</p> + +<p>Dominica overheard the phrase. If Sir Nicholas had been behind they +would be very sure the devil was on their heels, she thought.</p> + +<p>There was a stream to be forded; the coach lurched down the bank, and +the shallow waters lapped round the wheels. Dominica's horse chose to +jib at the stream, sidled, and backed, but was forced on. She went +through, climbed the slope beyond, and reined in to await the coach. +There was some trouble over this; the wheels sank into the mud of the +stream-bed, and the great horses strained in vain. The men were all +about the coach, pushing, gesticulating, arguing. It was decided to +rope two saddle horses to the coach.</p> + +<p>There came a thunder of hooves to the north, behind Dominica. She +turned her head, and saw a troop riding towards her, <i>ventre à terre</i>. +Her eyes narrowed in surprise; the horsemen came nearer, and she saw +masked faces. She cried out in swift alarm, wheeled her horse about, +and went quickly down the slope to where the coach still stuck in the +stream. "Bandits!" she said. "A troop of masked men! Get to horse!"</p> + +<p>The men left their task of extricating the coach. Two of the guards +sprang into the saddle at once; the coachman got out his musket.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice leaned back at her ease. "Did you say bandits, my dear? I +can hardly credit it."</p> + +<p>"Masked men, señora. I know not, but I misliked what I saw."</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice looked round at her bodyguard, and yawned. "Well, and if +you did, my dear, we have guards enough to give them a fine scare. Do +not be alarmed."</p> + +<p>"I am not alarmed," said Dominica with dignity.</p> + +<p>The troop appeared over the top of the slope, cloaked men, with gauze +masks covering their faces. A shot sounded, there was a flash of +steel; the bandits came scrambling down the slope to engage with Doña +Beatrice's bodyguard.</p> + +<p>Dominica thought there were no more than six of them, but she could not +be sure in the <i>mêlée</i>. Her heart beat fast, but there was something +about this battle that made her draw her brows together, and look +frowningly. There were pistol shots, but no man was wounded; swords +flashed, but no man was cut down.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice's fan stopped waving. Her eyes were narrow all at once, +and behind them her brain was moving quickly. She sat forward with a +hand on the side of the coach, watching this odd fray.</p> + +<p>Dominica knew a sudden, inexplicable fear. She brought her horse up +close to the coach. "Señora—aunt—what is this?" she asked urgently.</p> + +<p>"That is just what I am asking myself," said Doña Beatrice calmly. "If +these men are brigands they act as no brigands did that I ever heard +of."</p> + +<p>A couple of the masked men spurred up to the coach; a hand seized +Dominica's bridle. She slashed at the masked face with her whip; the +leather thong cut the mask across, and revealed an unshaven chin, a +thick nose, and the fast rising weal of the whip-lash. The whip was +wrested from Dominica's hand. She cried out to her guards:—"To me! To +me, cravens!"</p> + +<p>They were sheepish, laying down their arms, as though worsted in the +fight. Yet there was not a man among them who had taken a hurt.</p> + +<p>Dominica drove her heel in hard, struck at the hand on her bridle. Her +horse plunged forward, but her captor jerked it up. "Help me, cowards!" +Dominica cried furiously.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice had half risen from her seat as though she would descend +from the coach. She sank slowly back now, her eyes fixed under their +drooping lids on a masked horseman who stood a little apart from the +rest. She watched him turn his head to give an order to one of the men. +She could not hear his voice, but she had no need to hear it. A woman +should know her own son.</p> + +<p>Her hand felt for her fan. Thoughtfully she looked at her niece, being +forced on up the slope. A very infamous proceeding. She was surprised +that Diego should think of such a scheme. Her shoulders shook +slightly; meditatively she bit one finger-nail. Should she put a stop +to it or no? She had no doubt that a word from her would subdue Don +Diego, but should that word be spoken? This was a crude performance, by +her standards, but she admitted she could have thought of no surer way +of reducing her niece to obedience.</p> + +<p>She slightly raised her ample shoulders in a gesture of fatalism. Let +Don Diego do as he chose: a girl never liked a man less for being shown +the strong hand. She turned her attention to her screaming tirewoman. +"I beg you will be quiet," she said. "We are not attacked, and you do +no good by that screeching."</p> + +<p>Old Carmelita pointed a shaking finger. "Señora, señora, they bear off +the señorita!"</p> + +<p>"I am not blind," said Doña Beatrice. "I can do nothing to the purpose. +Pray you be calm."</p> + +<p>The masked riders had closed round Dominica; in another moment they +were over the brow of the slope, and had gone out of sight.</p> + +<p>One of the guards came to the side of the coach, pushed on by his +fellows, and mumbled something inarticulate.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you to know what you are about," said Doña Beatrice sharply. +"Pray do not think me a want-wit. What did Don Diego pay you for this +piece of work?"</p> + +<p>The man was put out of countenance, shifted uneasily from one foot to +the other, and stammered an unmeaning answer.</p> + +<p>"You are a fool," said Doña Beatrice. She had resumed her fanning. A +movement of the fan beckoned the coachman forward. "Where is my son +taking Doña Dominica?" she asked languidly.</p> + +<p>"Señora—it—I do not know," said the coachman.</p> + +<p>"You would be better advised to speak the truth," said Doña Beatrice.</p> + +<p>The coachman looked at her, and seemed to think she might be right. +"Señora, to the lodge."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Doña Beatrice. "Who else is there?"</p> + +<p>"Señora, none but Luis, the valet."</p> + +<p>"You shock me," said the lady. "I think you had better set yourself to +pull the coach out of this stream."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The riders hedged Dominica closely about, and struggle as she might +there was no withstanding the insistent drag on her bridle. She fought +desperately to rein in her horse, but the bridle was wrenched from +her straining hands. A cut across the quarters made the frightened +animal bound forward. Dominica leaned forward in the saddle to strike +passionately at the man who led her. He laughed, bade her be still, and +pressed on.</p> + +<p>She was sobbing with rage, quite powerless, but ready almost to fling +herself from the saddle rather than be carried on thus ignominously. +"Who are you?" she panted. "What do you want with me? Answer me, you!"</p> + +<p>No one replied to her question; she looked round wildly at the masked +faces: the blank gauze told her nothing. She looked ahead then, to note +the way they went, and found that they had left the road, and were +pressing on up a slight hill, towards wooded country.</p> + +<p>They had to check their pace; there were boulders in the way, and +overhanging tree-branches above their heads. A rough track led through +the forest; as far as Dominica could ascertain they were striking +north, towards Vasconosa.</p> + +<p>A man pushed forward, and came to ride on her other side. Dominica +stared at him, saw an elegantly gauntletted hand upon the rein, and +smelled the sweet scent of musk. It was not fear that seized her then, +but a cold fury that almost bereft her of speech. She struggled for +words, rejected what came, and said at last in a voice redolent of +scorn:—"You may unmask, my heroic cousin. I have your measure now."</p> + +<p>He gave a slight laugh, and put up his hand to remove the mask. +"Fairest cousin, well-met!" he said, and bowed to her over the +saddle-peak.</p> + +<p>She spoke through shut teeth. "Unless I am much mistaken, señor, you +will not say so for long."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you are much mistaken, sweet cousin," he returned, and +laughed again.</p> + +<p>She pressed her lips together, and rode on in silence. After a while +Don Diego leaned towards her, and took her bridle from the man who held +it. "Let me be your escort, child."</p> + +<p>"I appear to have little choice, señor."</p> + +<p>They rode on ahead of the troop. "You drove me to it, Dominica," Don +Diego said softly.</p> + +<p>She gave a short laugh at that. Now she could despise him to the full. +A man who would apologise for his villainy, whine at it! "Holy Virgin!" +she ejaculated. "Is that your excuse, cousin?"</p> + +<p>"My love for you!" he said, flushing at the contempt in her voice.</p> + +<p>"A rare love, by my faith!"</p> + +<p>"It brooks no hindrance. I am desperate for you. You shall not think +harshly of me."</p> + +<p>"I shall not think of you at all," she replied. "You are of no account."</p> + +<p>His brows drew close over his nose. "I shall show you otherwise, +Dominica."</p> + +<p>She yawned.</p> + +<p>"You scorn me," he said, "but I love you. You have flouted me, given +me sharp words, and cold looks, but I have you now by the strong hand."</p> + +<p>Her eyes flashed; her lip curled. "The strong hand! Yours!" She flicked +at it with her glove. "My God, I could match you a strong hand which +would put yours to shame!"</p> + +<p>He coloured. "You betray yourself, Dominica. Was Beauvallet's hand so +strong then? Did it keep him from capture, and will it keep him from +the stake?"</p> + +<p>She looked disdainful. "You rave. You are ridiculous. Mother of God, +but you sicken me!"</p> + +<p>"You will not long say so," he answered.</p> + +<p>"What, am I to be rid of you then? I give thanks for a happy +deliverance."</p> + +<p>He sneered at her. "Who shall deliver you, señorita? Your fine +Beauvallet, so neatly caught and prisoned? You will grow weary of +waiting for him, believe me."</p> + +<p>"I do, very easily, señor," she returned lightly. "But I make no doubt +the Chevalier de Guise would be happy to serve me were he free."</p> + +<p>"Very clever," he said, "but I sprang your secret the night he was +taken. Why persist in this pretence?"</p> + +<p>She shrugged. "If you have a maggot in your brain, cousin, I see no +reason why I should share it." She turned her head. "I suppose this to +be a plot of my aunt's?"</p> + +<p>"Dear cousin, give honour where it is due. The plot is mine alone."</p> + +<p>"You amaze me, señor, I had not thought you possessed the stomach for +so hardy a deed."</p> + +<p>"I am not so spiritiess as you think, perhaps," he said quickly. "If +you are happy to be with freebooters you should like this exploit."</p> + +<p>"Given any other man to be the abductor, señor, I might," she conceded.</p> + +<p>He jerked his shoulder up. "You gain nothing by such talk, cousin."</p> + +<p>They rode on in silence, further into the forest to a ride Dominica +recognised. She was being taken to the old hunting-lodge belonging to +the Vasconosa estate. It seemed to her a crowning insult that he should +dare to take her to a house not five miles from where her aunt lay. She +fairly gnashed her little teeth over it, and her cheeks flew colours of +rage.</p> + +<p>They drew up before the door. He lifted her down from the saddle, and, +looking round, she saw that the troop had dispersed, only one man +remaining to take their horses. Ignominy upon ignominy! She guessed the +men to be hildings employed upon the estate, and could imagine what +chuckles and sly looks were passing between them at her expense. Anger +consumed her; there was no room for fear.</p> + +<p>Luis, Don Diego's valet, had come out, bowing to them. He held the door +wide; she hesitated a moment, and then brushed past him into the hall +of the lodge.</p> + +<p>Diego, following her close, found her tapping her foot by the table. +"Dearest cousin you are surprisingly beautiful when you are enraged," +he told her. "There is a chamber prepared for you upstairs. I regret I +have no tirewoman to offer you, or any change of raiment. But you will +find such things as you need, and you have only to call, and Luis will +bring you what you ask for."</p> + +<p>"Your consideration passes belief, cousin," she said. "I do not +purpose to make a long stay, I thank you. I shall be glad to know what +you intend by me."</p> + +<p>The valet went discreetly away to the kitchens. Dominica was left +facing her cousin, straight and stiff in the middle of the hall.</p> + +<p>"I intend marriage, child, as I think you know."</p> + +<p>"Is this the way you woo in Spain, señor?"</p> + +<p>He came closer. "It is the only way to use with such a wild maid as +you, Dominica."</p> + +<p>"You are doomed to disappointment, señor. It is no way to use with me."</p> + +<p>He smiled. "You are tired from your long ride, and these alarms you +have sustained. Come, child, cry a truce, and let me lead you to your +chamber! When you have reposed yourself a little we will talk."</p> + +<p>She ignored his outstretched hand, but turned towards the stairs. She +had need to collect herself, to marshal her defences. She saw that she +stood in great danger; she would need all her wits about her to evade +it, and she was indeed shaken. Moreover, while he thought her safe +upstairs she might contrive to escape, she thought. Doña Beatrice might +stand back and allow her son to do his worst, but Dominica was fairly +sure she would not take a more active part in this villainy. If she +could win to her side she would be safe enough.</p> + +<p>This hazy idea of flight was soon put to rout. Don Diego, ushering her +into a chamber upstairs that gave on to the little garden at the back +of the lodge, displayed a key. "You will forgive the discourtesy, dear +cousin, but I must lock you in. I will come to fetch you to dinner in +an hour, if it please you!"</p> + +<p>She would not trust herself to speak; her breast heaved. She turned +sharply on her heel, and walked into the room.</p> + +<p>The door was shut behind her, the key grated in the lock.</p> + +<p>She stood still until she heard the stairs creak under Don Diego's +retreating footsteps. Then she went in a little dash to the window, and +flung it open, and looked out. It was unbarred, and for a sufficient +reason. There was no need of bars, for the wall of the house fell sheer +to the ground some twenty feet below. No friendly creeper afforded a +foothold, nor even a drain pipe. To jump from the window would mean +broken limbs, and maybe worse. She stayed panting by it, her fingers +gripping the ledge till the nails showed white. It was of no use though +to rage, and grind her teeth. Escape did not lie that way.</p> + +<p>She turned away from the window, and came back into the room, and took +stock of her surroundings. A great bed stood out from one wall, hung +with curtains of red damask; arras of tapestry covered the walls; there +was a chest, a chair, an escabeau, a table with carved legs, a mirror +hung above a second chest, whereon stood a basin and an ewer of silver.</p> + +<p>The mirror showed a tempestuous lady, wrath in her face; her hair +dishevelled under the French hood, her habit dusty and disordered. +Dominica poured water into the basin, and bathed her face and her +hands, slowly, abstractedly. A cake of soap was to hand, delicately +scented, a towel. She stood rubbing her fingers dry, and looking at her +reflection in the mirror, thinking, thinking.</p> + +<p>An hour later, Don Diego scratched on the panel of the door. A cool +voice bade him enter; he found his cousin seated by the window, her +hands folded in her lap, the picture of maidenly resignation. But he +knew her too well to suppose her resigned; it did not need the steely +flash in her eyes as she raised them to tell him that his cousin was +prepared to give battle.</p> + +<p>He bowed to her. "Dearest cousin, supper awaits you. May I lead you +down?"</p> + +<p>She rose at once, and came to the door; she even allowed him to take +her hand. They went in silence down the stairs and across the hall to a +smaller parlour, panelled with mulberry wood. Covers were laid upon a +draw-table; Luis stood deferentially waiting behind one of the chairs. +She was handed to it, and sat down with what composure she could +muster. The curtains had been drawn to shut out the fading daylight, +and a cluster of candles on the table lit the room. Outside the silence +of the country seemed to enfold the house. Dominica felt very alone, +and had to fight down a rising wave of panic.</p> + +<p>"Rude fare, dear cousin, I fear me, but you will forgive it. Luis is an +unaccustomed cook."</p> + +<p>She inclined her head. The food was well enough; she supposed this was +Don Diego's way of telling her that there was no one but herself and +him and Luis in the house. Superfluous information, she thought.</p> + +<p>He poured wine into her glass. "Will you take some of this wine of +Alicante, cousin?"</p> + +<p>She looked up quickly, puzzled and searching. The words were oddly +familiar, stirred a chord of memory. Her mind flew back; she stared at +Don Diego, but she saw instead a laughing face, with eyes of deep, +wind-swept blue....</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose, señor, that your daughter will take wine from my +hands?..."</p> + +<p>A tremor shook her. Her eyes shut for a moment, as though to hold the +brief vision. She opened them again, and the <i>Venture's</i> stateroom slid +back into the past. "I thank you, cousin," she said quietly, and picked +up the cup with a steady hand.</p> + +<p>She ate sparingly, drank less, and answered in monosyllables Don +Diego's easy flow of talk. Sweetmeats were at last set on the table, +and some ripe pomegranates from the south. Luis withdrew, and they were +alone.</p> + +<p>She pushed back her chair a little way from the table, and turned her +gaze towards Don Diego. "Cousin, I await your explanation."</p> + +<p>He lifted his cup in a silent toast. "It is contained in the one short +phrase, my dear. I love you."</p> + +<p>"You have an odd way of showing me, señor, that you love me. May I not +rather suppose that you love my possessions?"</p> + +<p>He frowned at that; he had not his mother's frankness. "They are as +nothing beside your charms, Dominica."</p> + +<p>"I fear you flatter me, cousin."</p> + +<p>He leaned towards her, stretched a pleading hand across the table. "Let +us not bandy idle words to and fro, Dominica. Believe I am mad for you!"</p> + +<p>"It does not strain my credence to believe you mad, señor."</p> + +<p>"I am mad, yes, but for love of you. No, let me speak! You do me wrong +when you think me anxious only to possess your wealth. I do not deny +that was my first thought. But I did not know you then; you had not +cast your divine spell over me. I would wed you were you penniless." +He saw that she was about to break in on this, and hurried on. "There +seemed to be no way but this. I took the straight, swift road to my +desires. You shall not blame me for that. You are angry now, outraged; +I see your eyes flame. Think but a little and you will pity me, +understand my seeming madness!"</p> + +<p>"I might pity your folly, señor, but pity will not work on me to wed +with you," she said.</p> + +<p>"Dominica!" He tried to take her hand, but it was swiftly withdrawn. "I +should be loth to use force. You shall learn to love me, even if you +hate me now. Put this English pirate out of your head——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, God's mercy, señor, still harping on that fairy tale?" she +exclaimed. "You put me out of all patience!"</p> + +<p>"He is sped," he insisted. "There is no escape for such as he. Set him +aside; forget him."</p> + +<p>She looked at him fully now, almost sternly. "Señor cousin, you talk +without meaning, but if the Chevalier de Guise were my lover, and he El +Beauvallet, I would be faithful to him though he died and I faced death +because of him."</p> + +<p>An ugly look leaped into his eyes. "You speak very strongly, cousin. +There are some things harder to face than death."</p> + +<p>This was coming to grips at last. Battle was joined, and she was glad +to have it so. Anything were better than his love-making. "Cousin," +she said, clenching her hand on the table. "I am no milk and water +maid for your ravishing. I tell you again that there is no power under +heaven will make me marry you."</p> + +<p>He leaned back in his chair, nonchalent, keenly watching her. "Bethink +you of your fair name, Dominica," he said gently.</p> + +<p>"I care nothing for it."</p> + +<p>"No?" He smiled. "Brave words, but you have not thought on it yet, +sweet cousin. You show me no mercy, no kindness. Should I then show you +any?"</p> + +<p>"I make no doubt you would not," she said swiftly. "But if you think to +wring consent to marriage out of me by such means, you are mistaken, +and have not my measure."</p> + +<p>He lifted the wine-cup to his lips, sipped, and held it still, his +elbow on the arm of his chair. "I can ruin you, my dear," he said. "If +you go from here unwed you can never show your face abroad again."</p> + +<p>"Do you not think, señor, that if I had to choose between marriage with +such as you and a cloister I would not choose the cloister?"</p> + +<p>It was plain that he had not thought of that. He set the cup down with +a snap, staring at her from under suddenly frowning brows. After a +moment he hitched up his shoulder in the way he had, and gave a short +laugh. "Idle words!"</p> + +<p>"Try me, and you will see, señor."</p> + +<p>He poured more wine, but he did not drink. "You think I do not know +what heretical notions you hide," he taunted her.</p> + +<p>She kept her countenance. "All that is past. I am a true daughter of +the Church, nor could you prove me other. The Church would receive me, +and my wealth too, be you very sure."</p> + +<p>"You do not know what you say." He drank deep, and set the cup down. +"This is to work on me, no more."</p> + +<p>"You live in a fool's paradise, cousin. There are no lengths to which +I would not go for the purpose of frustrating your foul designs. Why, +what does the world hold for me that I should cling to it? I am alone, +amongst enemies, for such you and my aunt have shown yourselves to be."</p> + +<p>"There is El Beauvallet," he said, and looked intently to see whether +she would change colour.</p> + +<p>She cast up her eyes, but answered patiently. "I humour your whims, +cousin. If the Chevalier de Guise were El Beauvallet, and my lover, +what would be left to me now but a cloister?"</p> + +<p>He sneered at that. "Oh, methought he could burst all bars and bolts, +this famous pirate!"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you thought so indeed, cousin, since you fled Madrid in such +haste," she said tartly.</p> + +<p>He showed his teeth a moment. "Do you imagine these holiday terms serve +you, señorita? I would be gentle with you, but you drive me to harsh +measures. You are besotted; you do not know in how dire a state you +stand. The hour grows late already, my cousin, and there is only Luis +in the house. I warrant you he will not hear a cry for help."</p> + +<p>She was afraid, desperately afraid, but no sign of it appeared in her +face. "You will let your desires ride you to your own undoing, cousin. +Work your will on me: you will lose my substance."</p> + +<p>He sprang up. "By God, woman, you are shameless!" he said violently. +"Is this the bold spirit the New World breeds? Do you hold your honour +of so small account? Out on you, I say!"</p> + +<p>"Do you then hold my honour in so great account?" she asked +contemptuously. "Was it your care for it induced you to bear me off +to-day?"</p> + +<p>He began to walk up and down the room, kicking a joint-stool out of +his way. She sat still, watching him, and courage soared high. He was +irresolute. She knew herself to be the stronger of the two; she could +hold him off for a while yet.</p> + +<p>His thoughts raced; he shot a quick look at her as he passed in his +impatient stride. She was sitting straight in her chair, hedged about +by a flaming barrier of resolve. She was strung up; events had marched +too swiftly to allow her girl's imagination to sap her courage. In a +dim way he realized this. Stealing yet another look at her rigid face, +and the dark eyes that burned in it, he could picture her very clearly +following out her threat. He had her in his power; he could work his +will on her, but some instinct told him that she was in too exalted a +mood to capitulate.</p> + +<p>He was honestly shocked by the attitude she chose to take up. It had +been unforeseen; it took him so much by surprise that he was thrown out +of his stride. She sat like a goddess, fearless and invincible. So much +he could see.</p> + +<p>He went on with his pacing, biting his finger-nails now, as he always +did when he was put out. He knew something of women; he had had +dealings with a-many and a-many, but this girl was out of his ken.</p> + +<p>He reflected. Her uplifted mood could not last; she was no goddess, +but a girl strung up to a pitch of abnormal excitement that would die. +He made up his mind to wait, to allow anticipation to wear down her +courage.</p> + +<p>He came to a halt opposite her. "We will see how you feel in the +morning, my cousin," he said. "Let the night bring sager counsel. You +are over-wrought, and I would not hurry you, nor do I wish to constrain +you by force. But mark me well! To-morrow night, if I have not your +promise to wed with me, you will not find me so gentle. If you will not +have me with the Church's holy tie you shall have me without it. You +have a night and a day to make up your mind whether you will be wife or +mistress, but one or the other you shall be. That I swear!"</p> + +<p>Some of the tension went out of her. She let her eyes fall that he +might not see the relief in them. Much might happen in a night and a +day; there was hope still.</p> + +<p>She rose. "Then I desire to retire to my chamber, señor, with your good +leave," she said.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Of that mad ride through Spain Joshua never afterwards spoke without +a shake of the head, and a gesture of incredulity. "You ask me how we +compassed it?" says he. "I will tell you very simply, I do not know. +We were out of Madrid featly enough, none saying us nay. Why should +they? My master wore the collar of the Golden Fleece about his neck, a +fine gaudy thing, to rank with our Garter, so I believe. That weighed +with them, I warrant you. If any speered after us, why, we were on the +King's business, and you may believe we tarried not to see how they +stomached that.</p> + +<p>"We rode through that first night without drawing rein. I thanked +Jupiter—a very potent planet in my affairs—that there was some faint +moonlight, else had we been shent. Past some town—you would not know +it, and nor did I—clouds came up, and we were left to flounder among +the ruts and the boulders. As I remember, we lost the road twice +between that stage and the next. I was near to breaking my head against +low-hanging tree-branches, lost, then bogged in some swamp. 'How fares +your honour?' sing I out into the darkness. 'Merrily, merrily!' calls +Sir Nicholas back to me. What can be done with such a mad-wag? We were +casting about to find the road, stumbling here, foundering there, with +all Spain hunting us to the rearward. But 'Merrily, merrily!' quoth +Sir Nicholas, and I doubt he thought so. Did he lose the road? What +matter for that? Trust him to nose out the north; it was enough. The +dawn came up, and a sharp wind with it, enough to cut one in two. I was +never more glad of the daylight. We struck the road—God's light, there +was little enough to choose between it and the open country!—pushed +on, the horses nigh done. My nag went lame: small blame to him. We +fetched up at the next stage, walking the last league. You may be sure +we had put a-many between us and Madrid.</p> + +<p>"My head was a-nod, and my eyes full of dust. What matter for that? +'How fares you honour?'—'Excellent well,' quotha, as though he were +upon a day's hunting. Ay, and a hunt it was, and he the hart. Yet I +do not deny he hunted too, a quarry of his own, and maybe gave more +thought to that than to the hounds behind him. So did not I, but I +own myself to be a very meacock creature, besides which the salt fell +towards me in an unlucky spill at that inn, and such a happening cannot +be regarded as fortunate. For all that I kept a good heart. There was a +certain prophesy made concerning me which led me to suppose I was not +destined to die upon a gallows, or at the stake. Moreover, if you go +upon a venture with Mad Nicholas you had best leave fear behind you.</p> + +<p>"We stayed but to break our fast at the stage. Maybe they looked +curiously at the inn. As I remember, there was a weasel-beaked fellow +mighty sprag to beagle out our business. He made little by that. We +ate but a running-banquet there; no sleep for us yet, by your leave. +A mouthful snatched, a cup or two of wine to slake our throats, and +away we went again. I remember I bestrode a leathern-mouthed Almaine—a +devil to ride, but a devil to go. Sir Nicholas had a Barb under him, a +fine fleet beast, but mine would have gone for double the distance. +Let that pass. We went at full stretch, no rest for man or beast. Thus +it is to go abroad on Sir Nicholas' affairs. But I do not complain. +'God save you, sir!' cry I, and I was reeling in the saddle. 'Will you +ride till Doomsday?' We drew rein then, at the next stage. 'We have a +fair start of them,' says my master, stretching up his arms. 'I'm for +bed.' I warrant you I dropped where I stood, and so slept.</p> + +<p>"It was all of a piece. We suffered a check here, an ill-chance there. +At one stage there were no nags to be had. We wasted a matter of six +hours: precious time if you are hunted men. But Sir Nicholas carried +all off with a high hand. I shivered to hear him, but it served, it +served. He had not been master of a ship's crew for naught, do you see? +We took what horses we would, scattered the ducats here and there. Did +a man refuse to sell? A murrain on the fellow! if he would not sell in +all honesty he must be robbed. To speak sooth, when it was thus shown +him he would, in the general way, sell. Our need? Why, we went upon +the King's business. Did they ask for proof? We waved a folded paper +in their silly faces. (It was an inventory of some shirts and other +matters sent to the washer woman, I believe, but they were not to know +that.) It sufficed. Our errand? Why, there was a dangerous pirate let +loose, a very fiend in human shape. Who was this one? Ho, who but El +Beauvallet himself! What a stir was there! We were off whiles the +dizzards chattered over it.</p> + +<p>"We suffered a bad check somewhere south of Burgos. There was not a +horse to be had that was not full of windgalls, or past cure of the +staggers. We lay up at an inn—a very noisome hole it was, but we took +little account of that. It was there we came near to our undoing, but +it passed, it passed. There came the sound of a horse ridden hard. I +could see the watchful look in my master's eye; he bore a fidgeting +sword in his scabbard those few minutes, nor was my dagger restful in +its sheath. A man went by our inn in a cloud of dust. When it cleared +he was away, but I know the look of a soldier, do you see? He was +rocking in the saddle: well he might if he had o'ertaken us! For we had +not gone at a jog-trot, as you may imagine. He was not on our track. +Nay, nay, unless I am much mistaken he was bound for the Frontier. We +might have stood in his path and mowed at him; he would have paid no +heed. All his orders were to stop the Frontier pass. For that matter +I believe we might have declared ourselves all along the way, and had +better service. The common folk make a hobgoblin of my master, and fear +him like the plague—the grandees not far otherwise, from all I could +observe.</p> + +<p>"Well, we made it in seven days, and might have made it in less, I +believe, but for that check south of Burgos. Odds lifelings, but I was +glad to leave the post road behind us at Burgos, and strike north-west +to Vasconosa. It was to shake off the hounds, you understand, for those +that went not to the Frontier would make Santander, as we judged, and +that lay to the east of us. A wild, mad journey, and a miracle that we +came off, say I!"</p> + +<p>Miracle or not, they did indeed come to Vasconosa at dusk upon the +seventh day. There was some sort of an inn there, but little else in +the village but a few hovels, and the Great House.</p> + +<p>Joshua did good work there while Sir Nicholas washed the travel-stains +from his person, and changed his dress. He was trimming his beard when +Joshua came up to his room. Joshua came strutting, and looked wisely.</p> + +<p>"We have beagled out some few matters, so please you, master. The Great +House we have seen, and I learn the family came in late last night. +Nothing's to be heard of them yet. We may easily come at the house; +there are a dozen ways through the gardens, and no guards save at the +gatehouse, and the stables. Naught to fear, they think. Why no, if they +had not El Beauvallet stalking them."</p> + +<p>"What of our road?" interrupted Sir Nicholas, combing his beard to a +point. "Could you discover the way?"</p> + +<p>"Never fear me, master. There will be some 'cross country work to +be done yet, over the hills, but we may go on a fair track, so I +understand, as far as Villanova. You ask me how I might find this out +without betraying matters not for the tapster's ears? Very simply, +sir. I am loud in my complaints that there is no road but the one in +these parts. In the south, say I, we are better served. That put our +dawcock on his mettle, I warrant you. 'Ho!' says he, 'I'd have you +know there is the road that runs to join the post-road a matter of ten +miles to the east of the Great House, and another which runs past the +hunting-lodge in the forest to Villanova."</p> + +<p>"We found Villanova on the map," said Sir Nicholas. "What is this +hunting-lodge?"</p> + +<p>"Be sure I asked, master. It need not concern us, being no more than +a summer-house that yon popinjay, Diego, uses for his sports. More +sports than you might think, master, I dare swear. It lies a matter +of five miles from here, and the track comes out not a hundred yards +from this inn. I have conned it. Now it seems to me, master, if you are +to steal your lady away, I had best have the horses tethered in the +spinney hard by the Great House, and so make that track as speedily as +may be possible." He saw that Sir Nicholas had put on a clean ruff, and +plucked a poking-stick from out his doublet. "So please you, sir, we +will poke out the folds of the ruff a little. Will you have me procure +a third horse with a lady's saddle?"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas frowned into the mirror. "I dare not take the risk," he +said after a moment's thought. "We want no questions asked, no tongues +set wagging. I'll have my lady up before me as far as to Villanova." He +glanced out into the fast gathering darkness. "Dark enough for me to +venture," he said. "Can you find that track at need, my man?"</p> + +<p>"I have it safe in my head, master." Joshua put up the poking-stick. +"But I would know, sir, what plan you have in mind."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas rose up from his chair. His eyes twinkled. "Marry, so +would I know, Joshua," he said frankly.</p> + +<p>Joshua shook his head severely. "This is no way to go to work, master. +What, do you think to have the noble lady away this night with never a +plan in your head?"</p> + +<p>"I know not. I've a-many plans, but I move in the dark, my friend, and +I have need to nose about a little. Maybe I shall get her off to-night, +if opportunity serves; maybe I shall hold my hand a while. We will +take the horses in case of need. See a fresh pair saddled, and tell +what lie leaps most readily to your tongue."</p> + +<p>Joshua prepared to depart. "I shall take leave to say, master, that a +man has to be nimble-witted to keep pace with you," he remarked, and +went out.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas did not inquire what lie had been told when he came down +twenty minutes later. Joshua had two good horses at the door, and the +landlord seemed satisfied. Sir Nicholas swung his cloak over his arm, +and sallied forth.</p> + +<p>They had not far to go to the spinney Joshua had located. It ran on a +low wall, crumbling and ivy-grown, which shut in the gardens of the +house they sought. The wall was easy enough to come over. The horses +were tethered in a thicket, a hundred yards or more from the road. Sir +Nicholas set a hand on the low wall, and vaulted lightly over; Joshua +climbed after him.</p> + +<p>They found themselves behind a yew hedge that bordered a paved walk. +There were openings cut in it, and through one of these they went, to +the pleasaunce.</p> + +<p>Ahead of them the house loomed up in the darkness; they could see a +light burning through an open window on the ground-floor, and another +in a room above-stairs. For the rest there seemed to be no sign of life +in the house, or else the windows were shuttered.</p> + +<p>"Stay you in the lee of that hedge," Sir Nicholas whispered. "I am +off to see what is to be seen." He slipped past, and was across the +pleasaunce before Joshua could expostulate; bareheaded, a hand on his +sword-hilt.</p> + +<p>Joshua saw him reach the shadow of the house, and lost him then for a +space. Evidently he was making a reconnaissance of those dark windows. +Joshua shivered and drew his cloak more closely about him.</p> + +<p>There was no sound behind the shuttered windows, nor any light +discernible. The place seemed to be strangely quiet, or else this side +of the house was not much inhabited. Sir Nicholas stole along until he +stood beneath the one unshuttered window. Flattening himself against +the wall, he peeped cautiously in.</p> + +<p>The window stood wide to the cool evening air; the room seemed to +be a sort of winter parlour, very elegantly furnished. In a chair +half-turned from the window sat Doña Beatrice de Carvalho, reading from +a gilt-bound volume.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas considered her for a moment. Then with a little shrug of +fatalism he set his hands on the sill and noiselessly swung one leg +over.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice, yawning over her book, heard a tiny sound, the click +of a scabbard against the stone wall. She turned her head towards the +window, and for once was startled out of her composure. She let fall +her book.</p> + +<p>"I give you a thousand good-morrows, señora," said Sir Nicholas +pleasantly, and came gracefully into the room.</p> + +<p>Doña Beatrice recovered herself. "My dear Chevalier!" she drawled. "Or +should I say my dear Señor Beauvallet?"</p> + +<p>"But were you in doubt?" said Sir Nicholas, one eyebrow up.</p> + +<p>"Very little," she said. She lay back in her chair, placidly regarding +him. "You are a remarkably bold man, señor. I protest I like you. But +what do you hope for here?"</p> + +<p>"To be frank with you, señora, I am here to carry off your niece," said +Sir Nicholas. He walked to the door, opened it, and looked out into the +passage. There was no sign of anyone stirring. He shut the door, and +came back into the room. "And if your charming son is at hand I shall +be happy to cross swords with him," he added.</p> + +<p>She gave a low laugh of pure enjoyment. "You are delightful," she +assured him. "But do you think I shall sit quiet while you perform +these deeds?"</p> + +<p>He smiled disarmingly. "Why, as to that, señora, I am afraid I shall +have to use you rather roughly," he said. "It is not my custom to war +with women, and I should be loth to have you think me a brutal fellow, +but I fear I shall have to tie you up and gag you." The smile grew. "Be +at ease, I shall not hurt you."</p> + +<p>She was perfectly at her ease. "Holy Virgin, a desperate man, I see! +What possessed you to come in at this window, Señor Beauvallet?"</p> + +<p>"It was the only one that stood open," he replied lightly.</p> + +<p>"You might have chanced on my son, señor, instead of me."</p> + +<p>"I had rather hoped that I might," agreed Sir Nicholas. "I am out of +luck."</p> + +<p>Her eyelids drooped. "Yes, señor, you are out of luck; more so than you +know," she said.</p> + +<p>"Am I so, señora?" The blue eyes were watchful now.</p> + +<p>"Sadly, I fear. You will have to be content to talk to me. I confess I +could not have hit upon a more entrancing way of spending this tedious +evening. You see, I am alone in the house but for my servants."</p> + +<p>"You astonish me, señora," said Sir Nicholas, politely incredulous.</p> + +<p>"Pray you search the house if it will set your mind at rest," she +invited. "I am a creature quite without guile. This is a most amusing +situation, do you not find?"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas sat down on the edge of a small table near at hand. He +began to play with his pomander, but his eyes never left the lady's +face for all they were so careless-seeming. "It is unexpected," he +admitted. "But then, as you no doubt know, señora, my genius lies in +dealing with the unexpected. Where, dear lady, has your son taken Doña +Dominica?"</p> + +<p>She was prepared for that. "Rather, señor, he has gone in search of +her. Yesterday, not ten miles from here, our equipage was set upon by +brigands, and my niece carried off."</p> + +<p>"Brigands is exactly the word I should myself have chosen," nodded +Sir Nicholas, dangerously sweet. "I understand now why you are in so +much agitation, señora. A grievous thing to have your cherished niece +carried off." His voice changed; he let fall his pomander, and Doña +Beatrice saw that the laughing eyes were like twin swords. "Come, +señora!" he said briskly. "Give me credit for some little measure of +wit! Where has he taken her?"</p> + +<p>"My dear Señor Beauvallet, if he had taken her you would surely not +expect me to tell you," she pointed out.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas' brain was working swiftly now. "I think you have told me +all I have need to know," he said. "There is a certain hunting-lodge +not five miles from here, is there not?"</p> + +<p>The faintest shade of alarm, or perhaps is was only of annoyance, +crossed her face. It was enough for Sir Nicholas, watching like a hawk. +"My thanks, señora." He stood up. There was no smile in his eyes now; +they were blazing, and the fine mouth was set hard.</p> + +<p>"You know more than I do, señor," she shrugged.</p> + +<p>He stood looking down at her for a moment; she gave a little laugh, and +looked away. "I know," said Sir Nicholas softly, "that I shall have +rid the earth of a very knave when I rid it of Don Diego de Carvalho. +As for you, señora——" He broke off, and threw up his head, intently +listening. The sound of horses, approaching fast, was heard. He took a +quick step forward, and before she could move had a hand hard clamped +over Doña Beatrice's mouth, the other gripping her shoulder. There +was a sound of trampling round at the front of the house, and at that +moment Joshua's alarmed face peeped over the window-sill.</p> + +<p>The black brows lifted interrogatively.</p> + +<p>"Master, master, King's men!" whispered Joshua.</p> + +<p>He nodded briefly. "Rip me up your cloak. Quick, man!" His hand left +Doña Beatrice's shoulder, and flicked the handkerchief from the sleeve +of his doublet. Without ceremony he forced it into the lady's mouth. +Not afraid, but cynical still, she was able to admire in a detached +way his coolness, and to reflect that she could hardly recognise him +now for the same man who had ruffled it so gaily in Madrid. He had a +ruthless look now; there would be quick death for any who crossed his +path to-night.</p> + +<p>Joshua threw his torn cloak into the room. A thunder of knocks on the +front door in the distance set him shivering again. "For God's sake, +master——!"</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas answered never a word. With swift, sure movements he +twisted one of the strips of cloth tightly round Doña Beatrice's gagged +mouth, and tied it. Another encircled her body, pinning her arms to +her sides. She made no resistance; over the bandage her eyes looked +mockingly. If the King's men were at hand now El Beauvallet was doomed.</p> + +<p>There was a hurry of footsteps in the passage, servants were running +to the front door. Sir Nicholas bent, passed the third strip round the +lady's wide skirts, and hobbled her tightly.</p> + +<p>"In the King's name!" The peremptory voice reached the parlour; +evidently the front door was open now.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas smiled grimly. "Now, señora!" he said, and lifted her +up bodily. She was no light weight, but he carried her easily to the +window. Her eyes no longer mocked; they looked startled now, for this +was indeed the unexpected.</p> + +<p>"Take the lady!" said Sir Nicholas, and lowered her into Joshua's arms.</p> + +<p>"Beshrew your heart, master!" whispered Joshua, staggering under the +burden. "Are you mad in very sooth? Come away, sir! For the love of God +come swiftly!"</p> + +<p>"I come," said Sir Nicholas, and climbed lightly over the sill. He +dropped to the ground, lifted his prisoner from Joshua's straining +arms, and carried her off over his shoulder across the dark pleasaunce +to the low wall, and the spinney beyond.</p> + +<p>"We are sped! we are sped!" almost moaned Joshua. "And you lug the +wrong lady off with us! What now, master? Whither?"</p> + +<p>"To that hunting-lodge," said Sir Nicholas through his teeth. "We shall +leave the wrong lady in the spinney. I do not think they will look +for her there in a hurry." He dumped Doña Beatrice down on the wall, +climbed over, and lifted her up again. She was carried to the thicket +where the horses stood, and set down in the middle of it. Sir Nicholas +untied his horse and gathered the bridle in his hand. A moment he +looked down at Doña Beatrice, glaring up at him. "Señora," he said, "do +not repine at the discomfort of your situation. Had you been a man I +should have killed you."</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The track through the forest was found, and Beauvallet's horse leaped +forward under the spur. Joshua, pressing up close, looked anxiously +into his master's grimly smiling face. "Master, what is it?" he said +fearfully.</p> + +<p>"Don Diego has had my lady shut up in the lodge since yesterday," said +Sir Nicholas curtly.</p> + +<p>Joshua's jaw dropped. He could understand now why Sir Nicholas wore +his killing look. This was ill news; the very worst that could have +befallen. His stupefaction passed; righteous wrath sprang up. "Ah, +villain! ah, crack-hemp! If we slit not your weasand for this!"</p> + +<p>They galloped on down the track. To either side the great trees reared +up, ghostly in the darkness. The road was good, a grassy ride cut +through the woods. "Well for us it was, for we did not pick our way +daintily, look you," says Joshua.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas caught his horse up on a stumble, and turned his head. +"Hard-pressed now, my Joshua," he said, and shook the sword in his +scabbard slightly.</p> + +<p>"In my opinion, master, there is naught new in that," said Joshua +philosophically.</p> + +<p>"How many men, by your reckoning?"</p> + +<p>"Enough to do our business," said Joshua dryly. "But having dumped +the fat lady in the spinney—I allow it to have been politic, upon +reflection—and so shut her mouth, we may yet win clear away."</p> + +<p>"I don't think it," said Sir Nicholas calmly. "They may waste time in +searching for her, but if I read this villainy aright every hilding +on the estate will know where Doña Dominica lies, and send the guards +hot-foot after me there."</p> + +<p>Joshua spoke in a voice of alarm. "Save you, master, save you! do you +lose heart? For if that is so at last then I know we are shent."</p> + +<p>The answering laugh reassured him. "Oh chewet, do you not know when I +am in fighting humour?"</p> + +<p>"I should indeed, sir," acknowledged Joshua. "I make bold to say I find +you dangerous at this present. There will be broken heads and slit +gullets yet."</p> + +<p>They rode on in silence, stirrup to stirrup. Presently Beauvallet spoke +again. "I may have to lead the chase astray a little," he said. "Do you +ride off with my lady by the north-west road to Villanova, and there +await me. You mark me?"</p> + +<p>"Master, do you tell me to desert you?" said Joshua, offended. "That is +not very likely."</p> + +<p>He caught the well-known gleam in Beauvallet's eye. "Oho!" said Sir +Nicholas softly. "Do you command here, my friend? Now I think you will +do as I say, or it may be the worse for you."</p> + +<p>"Pretty treatment, master, by my troth!" said Joshua. "Well, go to: I +do not deny you are the General."</p> + +<p>"If we are overtaken," said Sir Nicholas, ignoring this stricture upon +his ruthless methods, "as I have little doubt we shall be, ride with my +lady hot-foot to Villanova, and there await me. Is it understood?"</p> + +<p>"Well, master, well. And if you come not?"</p> + +<p>"By this hand I shall come!" said Beauvallet. "What, do you fear for +me? Know then that I was never more in the mood to try a throw with +death."</p> + +<p>"That I may very easily believe, sir, and I may add that it does not +set me the more at ease," said Joshua. He peered ahead and reined in to +a walk. "Softly now! What's here?"</p> + +<p>A house loomed up ahead, approached by a wicket-gate giving on to the +track. There was a low building some three hundred yards further on: +stables, Joshua guessed.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas slipped from the saddle, and twitched the bridle over his +horse's head. "This should be the place. Follow me now." He led the +way off the track into the gloom of the forest. The moss-grown floor +muffled the sound of the horses' hooves; they skirted the house, and +came round to the back of it, under cover of the trees. The horses +were swiftly tethered to a young sapling. Sir Nicholas unbuckled his +sword-belt, and drew the shining blade clear of its sheath. "No need to +take this to hamper me," he said, and left the scabbard on the ground. +He scanned the back of the house, and saw a lighted window on the upper +storey. "Aha, my bird, do you lie there?" he said. "We shall see anon. +Now I am for you, Don Diego de Carvalho!"</p> + +<p>They went quickly round to the front of the house. Joshua had his +long dagger out, and followed silently in Beauvallet's grim wake. Sir +Nicholas went boldly now, the naked sword in his hand, and hammered on +the door of the lodge with its chased hilt.</p> + +<p>"God's my life, we stalk on our fate now!" muttered Joshua, aghast at +these high-handed measures.</p> + +<p>They heard footsteps approaching inside the house, rather hesitantly. +Sir Nicholas beat again on the door, an imperative summons, and Joshua +took a firmer hold on his weapon.</p> + +<p>The footsteps came nearer; the door was opened a few inches, and Luis, +the valet, looked out. "Who knocks? What do you want?"</p> + +<p>Joshua's arm slid lovingly round his neck; the point of his dagger +pricked the man's throat. "Nay then, my cosset, no sound out of you, or +you are sped," he said softly.</p> + +<p>The man's eyes stared at him, his lips moved soundlessly.</p> + +<p>"Truss him up," said Sir Nicholas, and passed into the lodge.</p> + +<p>There were candles in sconces upon the walls; the stairs ran up to +one side, to the other a door opened hastily. Don Diego came out, a +snatched-up sword in his hand, a look of quick alarm in his face. +"Let none enter!" he said sharply, and then started back. "Jesu!" he +gasped, blanched and shaking. His eyes were wide and staring, looking +fearfully. In the doorway stood El Beauvallet, tall and straight, +fiendishly smiling, like avenging doom wafted thither by most dreadful +witchcraft.</p> + +<p>The candlelight flickered along the blade of El Beauvallet's sword. He +held it between his hands, and bent the supple steel to a half-hoop. +Don Diego's fascinated eyes saw the white teeth gleam. "One has +entered," said Sir Nicholas. He came into the hall, purposeful, a +stalking terror. "I have the honour of presenting myself to you, +señor, in my true guise." He stood in the middle of the hall now, feet +wide planted. "I am El Beauvallet, Don Diego, and I come to seek a +reckoning with you!" His voice rang out; his beard jutted dangerously.</p> + +<p>Don Diego was backed against the wall. "Witchcraft! witchcraft!" he +muttered, and the sword trembled in his hand.</p> + +<p>The chin was upflung, the gay laugh rang amongst the rafters, "Ha, +do you think so indeed, villain?" He let his blade straighten with a +quivering snap, and shook it in Don Diego's face. "Come, pigeon-livered +hound! Here are no arts but my sword to yours. Or will you have me spit +you where you cower? Come, choose quickly! Death waits for one of us +twain to-night, and I am very sure it is not for me!"</p> + +<p>Away up the stairs Dominica knelt behind a locked door with her ear +pressed to the crack. She heard the ringing laugh, and it was as though +joy flooded her whole being. For a moment the world stood still, then +she sprang to her feet, beating on the door with her clenched fists. +"Nicholas! Nicholas! I am here, locked in!" she shrieked.</p> + +<p>He heard her voice and threw up his head. "Cheerly, my bird, cheerly!" +he called. "I shall be with you in a little!"</p> + +<p>She leaned against the door, sobbing and laughing at once. Might she +not have known that he would come, and come in time, too!</p> + +<p>Downstairs in the hall Don Diego had recovered from his first daze of +horror. The colour came back into his cheeks. He tore his dagger from +its sheath, and crouched, facing Beauvallet. "Dog of a pirate! You +shall speed to hell this night!"</p> + +<p>"After you, señor, after you!" said Sir Nicholas blithely, and +caught the thrusting rapier point on his blade. There was a scuffle +of daggers, steel clashed against steel, and Don Diego sprang back, +disengaging over the arm.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas drove him rigorously; they circled a little; there was a +lunge, and a dexterous parry, the flash of an upthrust dagger, scurry +of blades, and the quick shifting of light feet on the wooden floor.</p> + +<p>Don Diego fought furiously, lips drawn back in a snarling grimace, +brows close knit. He lunged forward to the heart, was parried by that +lightning blade from the hand of Ferrara, and recovered his guard only +just in time. Sir Nicholas was on his toes; the laugh was back in his +eyes, and on his lips; larger issues were forgot in the present joy +of battle. He had made no idle boast to his brother when he had said +he was a master of the art of foining with the point. Don Diego had +thought himself no mean swordsman, but he knew himself outmatched. +This man, sprung on wires; this devil who laughed as he lunged, had a +dashing skill that brought Diego face to face with death a dozen times. +He was fighting for very life, and he had thought to run through his +opponent almost at once.</p> + +<p>"Laugh, laugh, dog!" he gasped, beating aside that flickering blade for +an instant. "You shall laugh soon in hell!"</p> + +<p>"Go warn them there of my coming, señor," said Sir Nicholas gaily, and +seemed to quicken.</p> + +<p>The fight grew more desperate; Don Diego was losing ground, and knew +it. It was all he could do to keep that dancing sword-point at bay, +and ever he fell back before it. The point quivered to his throat; he +sprang back, was forced on further still, hard-breathing, sweating, but +fighting every inch of the way.</p> + +<p>Faintly in the distance came the thud of galloping horses. Joshua's +voice called urgently: "Master, master, make an end!"</p> + +<p>Don Diego thrust viciously to the heart. "You shall go +hence—shackled!" he gasped.</p> + +<p>The steel blades hissed together; one of them snaked out in a straight +lunge, driven by a strong wrist. "<i>My bite is sure!</i>" quoth Sir +Nicholas, and wrenched his sword free of the deep wound.</p> + +<p>Don Diego's weapon fell clattering; he threw up his hands with a +choking sound, and pitched forward on to his face.</p> + +<p>The thud of the horses' hooves was drawing nearer; Sir Nicholas was +down on his knee, turning Don Diego over. The black eyes were glazing +fast, but gleamed hatred still. Sir Nicholas felt in the elegant +doublet, found the key he sought, and sprang up.</p> + +<p>Joshua ran in. "Trapped, trapped!" he cried. "They are hard on us!"</p> + +<p>"Round with you to the back!" Beauvallet answered instantly. "Wait +beneath my lady's window, and when I send her down to you, off with +you!"</p> + +<p>Joshua made a gesture of despair and ran out. Plainly to be heard now +were the galloping hooves.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas went bounding up the stairs. "Where, my heart, where?" he +called.</p> + +<p>Her voice led him to the door. He fitted the key into the lock and +turned it, listening to the thunder of hooves drawing closer and ever +closer.</p> + +<p>The door was open, and Dominica sobbing on his breast.</p> + +<p>"You are safe?" he asked urgently.</p> + +<p>"Safe! safe!" she answered.</p> + +<p>"God be praised!" He put her quickly aside and strode to the bed. The +heavy quilt was flung off, the sheets snatched up and knotted. "The +chase is hard upon me. I must let you down through your window, my +bird." He jerked at his knot. The horses were at hand, and trampling +now as they were pulled up outside the lodge. Sir Nicholas reached the +window, "Joshua?"</p> + +<p>"Ready, master!" came the stealthy whisper.</p> + +<p>He turned. "Come, fondling! Trust me to let you safely down."</p> + +<p>She let him lift her on to the window-ledge, but her hands clung to +him. Downstairs blows were being rained on the shut door. "But you? But +you?"</p> + +<p>"Never fear," he said. His voice was cool and reassuring. "Twist the +sheet about your hands, so, and hold fast, child. Brave lass! Are you +ready?"</p> + +<p>Clinging tightly to her improvised rope she was lowered over the sill, +hung dangling on the end of the sheet, and was let down into Joshua's +ready arms. He set her down, caught her hand, and led her away at the +double across the garden to the hedge that shut it off from the forest.</p> + +<p>"Hist, hist for your life!" he breathed. "Do as I bid you, mistress, +and not a word out of you!"</p> + +<p>Behind them the guards were in at the door of the lodge, stumbling over +Don Diego's body.</p> + +<p>"Ah, he has been here, the villain!" cried Cruza. "He is here still! +Search the house!"</p> + +<p>Upstairs Beauvallet tore the key from the lock of Dominica's door, and +fitted it in again on the inside. He pulled the door to behind him just +as Cruza came bounding up the stairs, a drawn sword in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Well met, Señor Cruza!" said Beauvallet cheerfully, and held sword and +dagger ready.</p> + +<p>Cruza sent a shout echoing through the house. "To me! to me!"</p> + +<p>The men came stamping up the stairs. "Why, what a pack of you!" said +Sir Nicholas, amused.</p> + +<p>"Yield you, señor!" Cruza cried. "You are outmatched!"</p> + +<p>"Yield?" said Sir Nicholas. Up went his comical eyebrow. "God's Son, +Cruza, do you know who I am?"</p> + +<p>"You are El Beauvallet, and I have sworn to take you! We are six to +your one. Yield, yield!"</p> + +<p>"You will be forsworn, good señor. I am El Beauvallet, so the odds are +fair enough. Now who will take Nick Beauvallet?" He looked inquiringly, +and wondered whether Joshua had got Dominica away yet.</p> + +<p>"Insolent dog!" Cruza dashed in with levelled sword. "On to him, and +take him alive!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas' blade swept a circle before him. He laughed and shook +the sweat from his eyes. "Alas, alas, for vain ambition! So-so! What, +winded, my man?" A guard fell back with a slash across the forearm. +Sir Nicholas beat down a big double-edged sword, and slipped his +dagger-hand behind him, feeling for the handle of the door.</p> + +<p>The Toledo blade bit shrewdly and sure indeed. Cruza staggered as the +point went home in his shoulder, and recovered again. "Alive! I want +him alive!" he gasped out.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas' fingers had found the door-handle, and turned it now in +one quick movement. The door was flung open; he sprang back, fighting +his way, sent the foremost guard sprawling with a wound in the breast, +and slammed the door home behind him.</p> + +<p>Cruza threw himself upon it, thrusting with all his might. "Quick, +fools!" he cried, and heard the key grate in the lock. "Two of you down +into the garden, under the window!" he jerked out. "Break down this +door, you others! Break it down!"</p> + +<p>Two of the guards went running down the stairs and round to the back; +the rest set their shoulders to the door. The lock gave under the +weight, the door flew wide, and the guards were in.</p> + +<p>The room was empty. An overturned chair lay a-sprawl by the window; a +casement swung open on its hinge, and the curtain beside it was rent +from end to end.</p> + +<p>With one accord his men followed Cruza to the window and tried to crane +out. From the arras behind the door Sir Nicholas slipped out, kissed +his fingers silently to the backs of the guards, and was off without a +sound across the upper hall to the stairs.</p> + +<p>He went down in a series of bounds, reached the hall, and stepped over +Don Diego's body to the door. A beam of light cast through the opening +showed him a guard standing to the horses' heads. He went forward in a +rush then, and his sword-hilt took the guard on the chin almost before +he was aware, and sent him sprawling in the road. Sir Nicholas caught a +bridle, vaulted into the saddle, and stood up in his stirrups.</p> + +<p>"Come then, ye dogs!" he cried. "Follow El Beauvallet if ye dare, and +take <i>Reck Not</i> for the word!" He wheeled about as the two guards came +dashing round the corner of the house, and galloped off down the way by +which he had come, eastwards towards the Frontier.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily +enough to the clap of heels to his flanks. Sir Nicholas held him on his +course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the trampling of +the horses he had cut loose by his sudden onslaught on the guard who +held them, and pressed on. The noise died away, only the pounding of +the bay's hooves on the track now broke the stillness.</p> + +<p>Where the track came out on the post-road a crowd was gathered, peering +and listening. The news of the guards' coming and the prey they sought +had spread through the village; there were assembled now some peasants, +a-gape, and servants of the Carvalho estate, fingering staves. Lanterns +bobbed and twinkled amongst them, but the moon was coming up, and a +faint grey light already made the lanterns superfluous.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas saw what awaited him, and rode down into the small crowd +like a thunderbolt. There was a surge forward to cut him off, a flurry +of agitated shouting, and the scurry of feet, and the bay horse was +amongst them. Confusion reigned, some trying to fling themselves out +of the way of the plunging hooves, others striking wildly at the lithe +figure atop of the maddened horse. The bay was rearing and snorting +with fright, wrenched aside to evade a murderous blow from a club, +backing into a group of peasants, who gave precipitately, gripped by an +insistent pair of knees. Sir Nicholas' sword flashed aloft, wielded +like a flail. He forced a way through, the serfs falling back before +his irresistible path, tumbling over one another in their haste to get +away from this demon's reach. The hand on the bridle was slackened, the +bay horse was away, ridden hard to the south, towards the track that +led eastwards to the Frontier.</p> + +<p>There were men on the road, dotted here and there, stragglers hurrying +to see the capture of a pirate; they sprang aside instinctively to +give place to the mad, runaway horse that bore down on them, and saw +in the grey light a straight rider with a naked sword in his hand. +Some crossed themselves, some yelled an alarm, but no one offered El +Beauvallet hindrance.</p> + +<p>The road to the east was found; Sir Nicholas forced the bay in to a +more sober pace, and turned down the track. By the shout that was +raised behind him he knew that his way was marked. The villagers might +be trusted to direct the soldiers aright. Sir Nicholas settled down +to a canter, feeling his way, as it were, along the track. The ground +seemed level enough, grown over here and there with sparse, shifting +turf. To either side scrubby bushes were scattered, with a few trees +rearing up amongst them.</p> + +<p>Behind came gradually the muffled sound of the pursuit. Sir Nicholas +spurred on, mile upon mile, left the road for the flat pasture-land +that ran beside it, and galloped on, the sound of his flight deadened +by the soft earth. The curtal horse shook his fine head a little, +feeling a race in the air as the hand on his bridle slackened, +lengthened his easy stride, and took hold of the bit in good earnest.</p> + +<p>The trees grew more thickly now, oaks, Sir Nicholas guessed, and +presently a black wall seemed to rise up ahead. The track curved +slightly, and plunged into a great forest of oak trees. The branches, +in full leaf, shut out the moonlight from the depths of the forest; +only the track was faintly illuminated where the silver light filtered +through the almost interlocking branches.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas reined in, head up and ears straining, listening. Faintly, +very far away, came the sound of horses on the road.</p> + +<p>He swung himself down from the saddle, passed a hand over the bay's +steaming neck, and led him into the dusk of the forest.</p> + +<p>The horse was restless and fidgeting, but a gentling hand stilled him +after a while. He stood quiet, stretched down his neck, and began +lipping at some fallen leaves on the ground.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer, like approaching thunder came the sound of horses +on the road, ridden desperately. Up came the bay's head; the ears went +forward. Sir Nicholas' hand slid to the satin nose; the pursuit sounded +closer still, and Sir Nicholas' long fingers gripped tightly, checking +the imminent whinny.</p> + +<p>The riders swept up and past; they were so close Sir Nicholas could +hear the horses' hard breathing and the creak of the saddle-girths. He +held tight to the bay's nose, and waited for the soldiers to pass.</p> + +<p>They were gone in a moment, riding close-wedged, hell-for-leather. In a +little while all sound of them had died; they were away, making for the +Frontier road, and it would take a deal to stop them with their dogged +purpose firm in their minds.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas relaxed his grip on the bay's nose and laughed. "Oh, ye +bisson fools!" he said. "Ride on, ride on: ye will have but a cold +welcome at the end. So, boy, so!" He led the bay back on to the road, +mounted again, and set him at an easy canter along the track towards +Vasconosa.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Dominica, tossed up on to a horse before Joshua, clung tight by the +saddle-bow, and tried to speak. Joshua's hand covered her mouth +imperatively; he struck off through the wood at a walking pace, making +westwards.</p> + +<p>As soon as he judged it to be safe he bore round a little to meet the +track again, came upon it some quarter of a mile beyond the lodge, and +kicked his horse to a gallop.</p> + +<p>Dominica tried to see his face. "No, no, back, I say! back! What, will +you leave him? Coward! Oh, base! Back to him, I implore you!"</p> + +<p>Joshua torn with anxiety, sore at his enforced flight, was in no humour +to be patient. "Rest you, mistress, we must make Villanova."</p> + +<p>She leaned forward to tug at the bridle. "You are leaving him to be +slain! Turn, turn! Oh dastard, cur, craven!"</p> + +<p>"Ho! Fine holiday and lady terms these!" said Joshua, bristling. "Know +then, mistress, that were it not for you I would be beside Sir Nicholas +now, and had liefer be there, God wot! A plague on all women, say I! +What, do I bear you off for my pleasure? Out, out, señorita! These are +my master's orders, and an evil day it is that hears him give such +ones. Let go the rein, I tell you!"</p> + +<p>Her fingers were on his bridle hand, clinging, cajoling. "No, no, I did +not mean it, but turn, Joshua! For the love of God, set me down and go +you back! I will lie close, I will do as you bid me, only go you back +to aid Sir Nicholas!"</p> + +<p>"And get a broken head for my pains," said Joshua. "My master's an ill +man to cross, señorita. Nay, nay, we who sail with Laughing Nick must +do as we are bid, come weal, come woe. Content you, he has his plans +well laid, I warrant you."</p> + +<p>Words tumbled from her lips. She begged, stormed, commanded and coaxed. +"I am not the worth of his life!" she said again and again.</p> + +<p>"Well, I doubt there would be a fine reckoning between us if Sir +Nicholas heard me agree with you," remarked Joshua. "Therefore I keep a +still tongue in my head."</p> + +<p>"God knows what I said or did not say upon that ride," he afterwards +recounted. "Maybe my mistress and I bandied some hard words to and fro, +but I bore her no malice, nor did she ever after hold it against me. +Which is something remarkable in a woman, I hold."</p> + +<p>No sound of pursuit came after them; Joshua allowed his horse to +slacken the pace somewhat, and presently drew in to a steady trot. +Dominica was quiet now, but her face looked pinched in the moonlight. +Joshua, himself not much lighter-hearted, was moved to offer words of +comfort. "Cheerly, mistress, we shall have Sir Nicholas with us this +night."</p> + +<p>She turned her eyes towards him. "How can he fight all those men +single-handed?"</p> + +<p>"Mark me, if he does not fob them off with some trick," said Joshua +stoutly. "Maybe you did not believe that he would break free of that +prison, señorita, but he did it. Keep a good heart." He saw her clouded +eyes. "By your good leave, mistress, and with respect, I would say that +El Beauvallet's lady should wear a smiling face."</p> + +<p>She did smile, but faintly. "Yes, she should indeed," she answered. She +bit her lip. "I saw him for so fleeting a moment!"</p> + +<p>"Patience, mistress; I am bold to say you will hear the bustle of his +coming in a little while."</p> + +<p>They came to Villanova past ten o'clock at night and fetched up at the +inn. "More lies!" said Joshua. "Leave all to me, lady." He lifted her +down from the saddle and proceeded to create a stir. "Ho, there! Room +for the noble señora! What, I say! Landlord!"</p> + +<p>A portly individual came out of the lighted taproom and stared in +amazement at Dominica. She reflected that she must look oddly enough, +riding over the countryside at such an hour without cloak or hood or +even horse.</p> + +<p>"The good-year!" cried out Joshua, voluble. "Eh me, but this has +been an evening's work! A chamber for my mistress, and supper on the +instant! The noble señor follows us close."</p> + +<p>The landlord's eyes slowly ran over Dominica. "What's this?" he said +suspiciously.</p> + +<p>Doña Dominica stepped forward; she, too, could play a part. "A chamber, +landlord, and at once," she said haughtily. "Do you keep me standing in +the road?"</p> + +<p>Joshua bowed his lady into the inn. "Brigands, man!" he shot over his +shoulder. "A party of three, and my lady's horse shot under her. Ah, +what an ill-chance!"</p> + +<p>"Brigands? Jesu preserve us!" The landlord crossed himself. "But the +señor?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, be sure my master is on the villains' heels!" Joshua invented. +"'What,' cries he, 'shall this go unpunished?' The rogues made off +with our sumpters, and nothing will do but my master must give +chase, leaving me to get the gracious señora under cover. Oh, a very +fire-eater!"</p> + +<p>Dominica interposed in the voice of one accustomed to command. "A +bedchamber with your best speed, host, and supper against Don Tomas' +coming."</p> + +<p>Her tone had its calculated effect. She was evidently a lady of +quality, and as such the landlord bowed to her. That he was suspicious, +however, was plain.</p> + +<p>"And well he might be!" said Joshua Dimmock. "An unlikely tale, I grant +you, but by this time I was grown barren of lies, a very uncommon thing +in me."</p> + +<p>Doña Dominica was shown upstairs to a chamber of fair size and +appointments. She sank into a chair, and said pettishly for the benefit +of the landlord: "It was you who should have chased those knaves, +Pedro." She hunched a shoulder. "Don Tomas is too impetuous. To send +me off so, and himself to tarry!" She became aware of the puzzled +landlord. "Well, fellow, well? What do you want?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>He bowed himself out, assuring her that supper should be provided +against her lord's coming. A glimpse of a double ducat negligently +fingered by Joshua decided him to keep his suspicions in abeyance. +Double ducats were not so plentiful in this village that a man could +afford to run the risk of losing one.</p> + +<p>Joshua nodded briskly, and made a significant gesture of a down-thrust +thumb. "We shall do very well," he said. "Now, señorita, with your good +leave I shall go get the pack from off my nag's back. I must hope that +Sir Nicholas brings on his own jennet, for the most of his raiment is +upon it, and I can very plainly hear him calling in the morn for a +clean shirt and a clean ruff too."</p> + +<p>He took Beauvallet's coming so much for granted that Dominica began to +feel that he would come indeed. She laughed, and looked down at her +tumbled riding dress. "A clean ruff for Sir Nicholas! Pray you, what +will you do for me who have no clothes at all but what you see me in?"</p> + +<p>Joshua shook his head. "A very pungent question, señora, I allow. This +should have been looked to. But thus it is ever when my master is in +this humour! I doubt he will have lost his pack and that scabbard +beside. But there is never any ho with him. Reck Not! Ah, do I not know +it? In we dash, and if we come off with our skins you may say it is a +miracle."</p> + +<p>He went down to collect his pack, to see his horse stabled, and fed, +and to order a rear-banquet for the lady. She was served in her +chamber, and the covers left on the table against Beauvallet's coming. +The landlord had by this time very little doubt but that he entertained +noble guests. What their mysterious errand was he could not guess, +though he was inclined, saving only the incomprehensible absence of the +master, to suspect an elopement. But Joshua's demeanour alone convinced +him of the quality of the lady he served. None but a great noble's +man, thought the landlord, would show such a high hand as Joshua's. +There must be a cold capon prepared against his master's coming. +What, had he no better wine than this poor stuff? Let him make haste +to his cellar and fetch up a bottle of the best he had. Where were the +suckets? Was my lady to sit down at table to naught but a scraggy fowl +and a neat's tongue? Out upon him! The landlord should learn that a +lady of his mistress' standing was not to be so used.</p> + +<p>He waited upon Dominica himself, and was inclined to be severe with her +when she showed so little appetite. She looked up at him with large, +frightened eyes. "He does not come," she said.</p> + +<p>"Patience, patience, señorita, he is not a bird!" said Joshua testily. +"If he got away he was to lead the Guards off on a wrong scent towards +the Frontier. It would never do to have them on our heels, mistress, +for you cannot ride as we might have to in such a strait."</p> + +<p>"I can ride very well if I am allowed," she said meekly.</p> + +<p>Time wore on. A few last loiterers in the taproom went off homewards; +candles were snuffed below stairs, and the inn grew quiet. Joshua had +bespoken a chamber for his master, and a fire to be lit in Dominica's +room, judging with some shrewdness that its friendly crackle and glow +would do more to comfort her than any words of his.</p> + +<p>She sat by it trying to keep her courage up, and from time to time +looked anxiously at Joshua. She would not have him leave her; she would +not hear of going to bed for all his pleading. He might bully and +override her in most things, she said, but he could not make her rest +until she knew Sir Nicholas to be safe.</p> + +<p>"I shall take leave to say, señorita, that there is a long day ahead +of you, and you would do well to get what sleep you may."</p> + +<p>"I will not!" she said, her old spirit rearing up its head. And there +the matter rested.</p> + +<p>It was close on midnight when they heard the sound of an approaching +horseman. Joshua lifted a finger and threw out his chest. "Ah, señora! +ah! What said I? Ho, trust Beauvallet!" He went to the window and +pushed it open.</p> + +<p>Dominica was on her feet, clasping her hands, "It may not be. It may be +a soldier in search of me. I cannot think...."</p> + +<p>The horse was reined in under the window. "Holà, there!" rang out +Beauvallet's voice. He looked up at the front of the inn and saw Joshua +craning from the window. "God's Death, Joshua, what makes you there? +Come down and let me in!"</p> + +<p>Dominica sank back into her chair, almost stunned with relief. Joshua +was making for the door. "Ay, ay, thus it goes," he said. "Briskly, +recklessly, with never a thought to who may be listening. Ah, madcap!" +He went out, and Dominica heard him clatter down the stairs and draw +back the bolts of the door below, shouting to the awakened landlord as +he did so that all was well. Then a light step sounded on the stairs, +the door was opened, and the next instant Dominica was folded in +Beauvallet's arms.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</h2> +</div> + + +<p>They were up at cock-crow next morning, and away upon their long ride +north just as soon as they had broken their fast, and procured fresh +horses.</p> + +<p>Dominica felt herself to be moving in a dream; events had marched so +swiftly that she was dazed by them. She awoke to hear Joshua scratching +on her door, and for a moment imagined the previous day's wild work to +be a figment of her fancy. But Joshua's voice, unmistakably his brisk +voice, was bidding her rise up, and she knew herself to be living in no +dream.</p> + +<p>Breakfast in a small parlour leading off the taproom downstairs awaited +her. She found Sir Nicholas there, neat as ever, and because she was +suddenly shy and tongue-tied she could only give him her little hand +to kiss, and say in a voice that tried to hide her shyness: "Ah, Señor +Nicholas, I see you have that clean ruff Joshua spoke of, so I suppose +you did not leave your pack behind."</p> + +<p>He flung up a hand. "A' God's Name, let me hear no more of that pack!" +he said in comic dismay. "I have heard of little else from that +tickle-brain behind you since my coming last night."</p> + +<p>She looked round at Joshua's disapproving face. Joshua pulled out +a stool for her from under the table, but fixed a wintry look upon +Sir Nicholas. "Ay, master, no doubt it is very well to talk in such +careless wise, but I shall take leave to say that to throw away a +new doublet of murry taffeta and a pair of stocks broidered with +gold quirks about the ankles, not to make mention of a set of silver +aiglets and a pair of trunk hose scarce worn, passeth the bounds of +prodigality."</p> + +<p>"Peace, froth!" said Sir Nicholas, and sat him down opposite to his +lady at the table. His eyes smiled at her across the covers. "It is in +my mind, ladybird, that we have not sat at table together since you +were aboard the <i>Venture</i>." The twinkle deepened. "Do you remember that +you were loth to take wine from my hands?" He picked up the bottle at +his elbow and regarded it with uplifted brows. "You might well be loth +to take this from me," he remarked. "What is it, Joshua?"</p> + +<p>"Scarce potable, I allow," said Joshua gloomily. "A very vile drink, +sir, but what would you?"</p> + +<p>Dominica's tongue became loosened. She must tell Sir Nicholas of the +curious fancy that had come to her when Don Diego offered her wine of +Alicante, and when that was done she found she had left her shyness +behind her.</p> + +<p>The horses were saddled and ready. As Dominica set her foot in +Beauvallet's hand she looked saucily at Joshua, and said: "Now, Joshua, +you shall see whether I can ride hard or no."</p> + +<p>She showed her mettle that day; she had done with fears and doubts. +While she rode with Sir Nicholas at her side there could be nothing to +alarm her. She had doubted that he would not reach Madrid, and he had +done so; she had been sure that he could not escape from prison, and +he had escaped; she had feared that he would not survive yesterday's +grim work, and here he was, safe and gay as ever. She could never again +doubt his extraordinary faculty of coming off safe from seemingly +hopeless traps.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be no peril now. Joshua might sniff the air, and keep +an ear cocked to the rearward, but Sir Nicholas, leading the way over +the hills, was care-free and merry. So, too, would his lady be, then.</p> + +<p>The long journey taxed her powers to the uttermost, but she would not +admit her weariness. She sat as straight as she could, laughed at the +bad road, swore she was very well content, and had no wish to rest +her limbs. They lost the way; why, it was part of the adventure, and +her Nicholas would soon find it again; her horse stumbled on a craggy +mountain-side and nearly came down with her: let them not worry, she +was safe enough; the sun was scorchingly hot: why, she was used to a +hot clime, and would take no hurt.</p> + +<p>Joshua was moved to admiration. "With good leave," he said, "I may +remark that the señorita bears herself like an Englishwoman."</p> + +<p>"This is to praise you, child," said Sir Nicholas, amused.</p> + +<p>She nodded and laughed, and grew pink. "I shall very shortly be one, +Señor Pirate, shall I not?" she said, and peeped at him.</p> + +<p>His hand closed on hers. "My heart!"</p> + +<p>They had to travel 'cross country where roads failed them, and this +meant slow going for the most part, for the way was very rough, and +they had need to study the rough plans Sir Nicholas had made. The +shadows were lengthening long before they came within sight of the sea, +and Joshua began to fret. He pushed up alongside to gain Beauvallet's +ear. "Master, we shall never make it in time," he whispered.</p> + +<p>Dominica caught the whisper. "Then let us press on," she said. "We +must have Señor Nicholas away to-night without fail."</p> + +<p>That made Beauvallet laugh, and even drew a smile from Joshua. This, +however, he quickly suppressed. "The señorita speaks wisely," he said. +"Rare to junket about Spain singing catches as though we were at +Alreston, but I would take leave to remind you, master, that you are a +hunted man."</p> + +<p>"Oh, wind-bag," said Sir Nicholas genially, "if I could make better way +be sure I should. Broken knees won't serve us. We shall make that port +this night."</p> + +<p>Make it they did, but later than they had hoped for, losing their road +in the darkness, and only finding it again after much casting about. +Dominica swayed in the saddle, upheld whenever it was possible by a +strong, tireless arm, but when she heard Joshua swearing amongst the +boulders she could still laugh, though it was but a weary, would-be +valiant little laugh.</p> + +<p>They saw the lights of the tiny port ahead; Sir Nicholas snuffed the +air. "I can smell the sea," he said. "Courage, my bird!"</p> + +<p>Her head drooped against his shoulder. He made a movement to summon up +Joshua upon his other side.</p> + +<p>"Walk warily now," he said in a low voice. "If word was sent to the +ports to stop our passage, those at Santander will know very well where +to look for us."</p> + +<p>Joshua started. "God's me, I had not thought of that! Ay, they would +remember how you landed there."</p> + +<p>A drowsy voice spoke from Beauvallet's shoulder. "Oh yes, they would +never forget. We stayed with the Governor of Santander the day after +you set us ashore, and I would you could have heard him."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas looked significantly at Joshua. Joshua stifled a groan, +and shrugged. "A posse of soldiers, I dare swear. I might have guessed +we were not yet out of the trap." He looked up at the cloudy sky. +"What o'clock? Nay, how shall we say? It but remains to find no ship +awaiting. What, would she stay right through the night? One cannot +suppose it. She will sniff the dawn at hand and be off."</p> + +<p>"Dawn, stock-fish?" said Sir Nicholas. "If it is past eleven you may +call me a dolt."</p> + +<p>"I have a better regard for my skin, master," said Joshua, with dignity.</p> + +<p>They gave a wide berth to the cluster of cottages that formed the port, +and pricked their way cautiously down the hill towards the sound of +the sea lapping on the shingle. It was very dark, and the ground was +strewed with rocks and hillocks and patches of stones. Sir Nicholas +reined in his horse and turned in the saddle to speak to Joshua. "We +make nothing by this. We shall do best to tether the nags and go on +afoot."</p> + +<p>Joshua nodded and slid down from the saddle. Sir Nicholas was on the +ground, and already lifting Dominica down. Her legs almost gave way +under her; she staggered and caught at his hand. He would have lifted +her in his arms, but she shook her head. "No, no, I would rather walk. +I am only so stiff."</p> + +<p>They went forward, Joshua close behind them with the lantern he had +bought that morning in Villanova. Somewhere below them the waves were +breaking gently on the beach; the ground shelved steeply towards it. +Sir Nicholas stopped. "Light the lantern, Joshua," he said softly.</p> + +<p>Joshua knelt to open it. He looked up. "Master, a cloak to hide the +light."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas swung the cloak from his shoulders and held it round both +Joshua and the lamp. Joshua was busy with his tinder-box; a spark +flared, and the wick caught.</p> + +<p>Dominica felt numb with fatigue still. She sank down on a convenient +rock and watched Joshua tending his lamp under cover of the cloak. The +wash of the sea sounded like a lullaby; she wondered whether, somewhere +to the north in the velvety darkness the <i>Venture</i> lurked. They seemed +so alone in the world in this silence of the night that it hardly +seemed possible. Down by the huts men might be stirring, but here on +the shelving stony ground all was silent, hushed by the sea.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas looked keenly round, peering through the darkness. For +as far as he could see there was no one abroad. Come what might, the +signal must be given. He took the lamp from Joshua and held it high +above his head. Then he dipped it quickly, and cloaked it while a man +might count twenty. Again he showed it, and yet a third time.</p> + +<p>There was a pause. "Oh knaves, if ye be not there!" muttered Joshua. +"Oh, Master Dangerfield, I do not trust you!"</p> + +<p>Away to the north out of the blackness shone a pin-point of light three +times. The <i>Venture</i> had answered the signal.</p> + +<p>"Ha, true men!" said Joshua in high fettle. "I would wager young Master +Dangerfield against an hundred!"</p> + +<p>His wrist was clamped hard. "Silence, man!" hissed Sir Nicholas, and +threw up his head to listen.</p> + +<p>Joshua stiffened like a dog. To the west of them had come a shout, +muffled by the wash of the sea.</p> + +<p>"God's Death, they've posted a sentry on the look-out!" muttered Sir +Nicholas, and pulled his long dagger from its sheath.</p> + +<p>Joshua had his head under the cloak blowing out the lantern. Heavy +footsteps were approaching at a jog-trot. Sir Nicholas went forward +into the night noiseless and swift.</p> + +<p>A man loomed up out of the darkness with a levelled halberd. He was on +to Beauvallet before he realized it, and went down with no more than a +groan as the dagger struck home.</p> + +<p>"Ha, neatly done!" said Joshua, not above a whisper, and with complete +satisfaction. He put up his own weapon, which he had snatched out as he +ran after his master.</p> + +<p>But in the distance another cry sounded, as though a fellow-soldier +answered that first call.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was back at Dominica's side wiping his dagger. "More of +them," he said grimly. "The Governor of Santander has my compliments." +He swept Dominica up into his arms. "Lie still, fondling," he said. +"Naught to fear yet awhile. Down to the beach, Joshua, and on your life +no sound!"</p> + +<p>He was off into the darkness as he spoke. Joshua crept after, murmuring +to himself. "Naught to fear, forsooth! Well-a-day, well-a-day! and we +with the whole pack like to be on us at any minute now! The fiend seize +these stones!"</p> + +<p>They were halfway down the steep hillside, skirting rocks, slipping +on loose stones. Above, on the higher ground, came the crack of an +arquebus fired into the air.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" muttered Joshua. "That may be a signal to the rest of the pack, +but I warrant it will bring our men on fast! I shall die in my bed yet. +Courage, Joshua!" He felt level sands under his feet, and quickened +his steps to come up with Sir Nicholas, lost in the darkness. Behind, +on the high ground, footsteps were running and voices could be heard +calling to one another. From the huts to the west came also a stir. +Lights showed bobbing on the path above. The hunt was up.</p> + +<p>Dominica was set on her feet by the water's edge. Sir Nicholas wrenched +his fretful sword from the scabbard, watching those moving lights as +they came nearer, wobbling down the slope, outlining the forms of armed +men.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were casting about now from the looks of it. In the +glimmer of the few lanterns Beauvallet could see them peering and +searching with halberds levelled. There was but a handful of them, but +enough to settle the account of two Englishmen; and from the huts, +along the path upon the hill, more were coming to their assistance.</p> + +<p>Joshua had waded out into the water, striving to catch the sound of +oars. He came back and touched Beauvallet's arm. "To the right, master, +I think."</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas took Dominica's hand and followed. The faint sound of oars +grew more distinct; others beside themselves had heard it. From further +up the beach came a shout of command, and a surge of some four or five +men towards the water.</p> + +<p>"Row, ye devils, row!" groaned Joshua, fairly dancing with impatience.</p> + +<p>The soldiers were slipping and stumbling over the shingle; from the +dark water came a lusty shout; they could hear Dangerfield's clear +voice raised: "Pull, sluggards, pull!" Then the richer voice of the +boatswain came to them, chanting in imitation of a waterman: "Heave and +ho! rumbelow!"</p> + +<p>It was a race now grimmer than any that had been, a race between that +boat cleaving desperately through the water and the soldiers pelting +down to cut off the fugitives. Joshua stayed peering out to sea to spy +the boat, but Sir Nicholas had his back turned and waited, drawn sword +in hand, to check the rush from the land.</p> + +<p>The splash of oars was close now; another moment and Joshua saw the +boat come nosing shoreward. Behind him the foremost of the soldiers had +run on his doom, and Sir Nicholas' sword was red. But now lusty seamen +were wading ashore, jostling each other to be the first to reach land, +and the air was rent by solid English oaths. The handful of soldiers +on the beach drew back. They had courage enough, but lacked a leader, +and it was plain that a sprinkling of soldiers could not hope to stand +against this troop of bloodthirsty seamen. They fell back then and sent +up a mighty yell to warn their comrades that there was need of haste. +But the party from the huts was not yet at hand, though it was coming +with all possible speed to the rescue.</p> + +<p>"Ha, rogues!" shrieked Joshua. "In a good hour!"</p> + +<p>"Beauvallet and spare not!" sang out the boatswain, and reached the +sands with a splash and a bound. "How fares your honour?"</p> + +<p>"Rarely!" laughed Sir Nicholas.</p> + +<p>Master Dangerfield was at his elbow. "My God, sir, you have made it!" +he cried, and grasped at Beauvallet's hand.</p> + +<p>There was a fight in the air, all around the murmur of it. "Ho, Spanish +Papishers!" a voice growled. "Now see what comes to those who chase our +Nick!"</p> + +<p>A second voice bawled out cheerfully: "Ay, have at 'em, lads!" and +there was a surge forward up the beach.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was only just in time to stop it. "Back, ye rogues!"</p> + +<p>The rush was checked, but there was dissatisfaction abroad. The +<i>Venture's</i> crew had been spoiling for a fight all this past fortnight +of weary waiting; the excuse was provided, the men were elated, and +it was felt that those who had the temerity to harry the <i>Venture's</i> +commander needed to be taught a lesson.</p> + +<p>"What, not one blow, sir?" said the boatswain reproachfully.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas was amongst his refractory crew. "Back, dogs! Man me that +boat!" He beat them back with the flat of his sword. "By God, I will +have you all in irons if you man me not that boat!" he swore cheerfully.</p> + +<p>There was a chuckle, a concerted move seawards; daggers were slid home +in their sheaths. Somewhere near her Dominica heard a rough voice say +appreciatively: "Ho-ho! The General's back amongst us! I'm for the +boat."</p> + +<p>They manned the boat. They were disappointed at this tame ending, but +it was held to be unhealthy for a man to go against the General's +orders. His ungrateful behaviour upon being rescued by his faithful +crew rather pleased them. Easy to see Mad Nick was himself still! There +was a cheer raised.</p> + +<p>The bulk of the soldiers were pelting down the slope of the steep hill +now. Sir Nicholas lifted Dominica high in his arms and waded out last +of all to the boat.</p> + +<p>The crew became aware of the lady, and let another cheer. Many hands +were eager to receive her into the boat, foremost amongst them those of +Master Hick who had once had his face roundly slapped by her. She stood +unsteadily, a hand on one fustian shoulder, the other lost in a great +paw.</p> + +<p>Sir Nicholas climbed into the boat and waved farewell to Spain. "Give +way!" he commanded, and the long oars dipped in the water.</p> + +<p>Slowly they drew away, until the lanterns on the shore receded in the +distance, and the last sounds from Spain died.</p> + +<p>Dominica, crouched in the stern, stole her hand into Beauvallet's. His +fingers closed over it; he looked down at her, and she caught the flash +of his white teeth. "Safe now, fondling."</p> + +<p>She nodded and sighed her content. Behind her, at the tiller, young +Dangerfield spoke bashfully. "And a warm welcome for you aboard, +señorita, be sure."</p> + +<p>She smiled at him, but was too tired to speak. The boat cleaved on +through the dark water until the tall sides of the <i>Venture</i> reared +up before it, and they heard excited voices, and saw the light of a +lantern dangled over the side.</p> + +<p>"Safe? Have you brought the General off?" shouted the Master anxiously.</p> + +<p>The crew let as hearty a cheer as they could for their somewhat winded +condition, and something very like a yell of triumph went up from those +aboard the <i>Venture</i>.</p> + +<p>Dominica was carried up the rope ladder and kissed at the top. +"Welcome, my bride!" Beauvallet said in her ear, and set her on her +feet.</p> + +<p>Men seemed to surge around them, questioning, congratulating. There was +some display of thanksgiving, not unmixed with many a "Said I not so?" +apparently addressed to those who had doubted Sir Nicholas' ability to +dupe all Spain.</p> + +<p>Beauvallet shouldered a way for himself and his lady through this +excited crowd with a laugh and a jest flung carelessly. Dominica found +herself confronting a small neat gentleman whom Sir Nicholas clapped on +the shoulder. "Save you, Master Cooper!" he said. "I have work for you, +as I promised."</p> + +<p>"Sir Nicholas"—the neat man wrung his hand—"I count this escape +as not less than one of God's miracles, and a sign to these Spanish +Papists—a veritable Sign! What may I do to serve you?"</p> + +<p>"You may marry me, Master Parson," said Sir Nicholas Beauvallet.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="EPILOGUE">EPILOGUE</h2> +</div> + + +<p>"And so we came off," says Joshua Dimmock, sure of the last word. "You +say a miracle? Ho, we do not count such trifles as miraculous in my +master's service! Yet I allow it to have been a feat, and do not look +upon my own part in it as contemptible. Sir Nicholas owned himself +to be somewhat in my debt: a very unusual thing in him, I may say. +However, we had some talk together whiles I was trussing his points +that next day in his cabin, and 'Joshua, my man,' says he, 'be sure you +are a rogue and a wind-bag, but I owe you some thanks for this month's +work.' This was very acceptable to me, as you may be sure, not less so +than a certain token that went with it. I wear it upon my finger to +this day. Ay, a rare stone: it came out of the Indies.</p> + +<p>"But I run on. Sir Nicholas having said as much, and more, and maybe +puffed me up a very little in mine own esteem—for I took no account of +certain holiday terms such as toss-pot and hemp-seed that went with his +words, these being no more than the genial way he uses—he did me the +honour to inform me that he was to be married that morning.</p> + +<p>"A rare morning's work, I warrant you! with the crew grinning and +looking slyly—until I spoke with them. It was enough. I was become a +man of some account, which was not marvellous.</p> + +<p>"There was Master Dangerfield at that bridal, the ship's Master, our +surgeon, and myself. Be sure I was bidden, and rightly so, for setting +aside some other small matters, I was so near to being my mistress's +tire woman in those last few days as makes no matter. A very mettlesome +lady, that; I do not deny it. She was married in her riding-dress, +for she had none other, and a strange sight it was to see the bride +so shabby and the groom so point-de-vice. But I regret that murry +taffeta doublet and the new trunk hosen. However, let it go. You may +say my lips are sealed as to that lost pack, for there was that other +pack I was bound to leave behind at that smuggling port. I warrant +you Sir Nicholas made merry work over that: I bore all with a patient +countenance.</p> + +<p>"I talk more and no more. The marriage over there was some feasting, +and the crew in high fettle. We made all speed for Plymouth Sound, but +I doubt my master and mistress cared little when they came there.</p> + +<p>"At Plymouth I bestirred myself a little, as I know how, bought some +slight matters for my lady, which she was pleased to approve, and call +me a proper tire woman, and set about the ordering of horses and a +coach. My lady stayed aboard till all was ready. She was in no case, +says she, to show herself to England. Yet I never saw her own herself +put-out by the loss of her wardrobe. She took all as it came, and made +merry over it, and I am bound to say I was very much her servant before +that voyage was over.</p> + +<p>"We pushed on to Alreston in rare style, my lady in the coach, Sir +Nicholas riding close beside, and myself a little behind. My lady +must needs have the curtains drawn back to look about her on our +countryside. So she would have it known, but my reading of the matter +is that she wanted to look upon my master. And he upon her, God wot!</p> + +<p>"You may be sure our home-coming fetched up a rare gallimaufry at +Alreston. There was never a one there had thought ever to see Sir +Nicholas again. I believe my lord mourned him already as one dead. But +in we swept at the gates, up the avenue to the house, and fetched up +there with something of a flourish. It is our way. The good-year! We +had the whole household about us in a trice, and I make bold to say +that I have never before or since seen my lord in such a taking of joy. +For he is not one of those who wear the heart upon the sleeve, as the +saying is. He had not near done wringing my master's hand and hugging +him about the shoulders when Sir Nicholas puts him off and begs leave +to present his lady-wife. A rare thing it was to see my lord's jaw +drop! 'What!' quotha. 'You have never brought her off, Nick?'</p> + +<p>"Sir Nicholas handed my mistress out of the coach. I warrant you he +looked proudly, with that gleam of the eye and that cock of the pointed +beard we all know. Well he might throw up his chin! She was a very +lovely piece—with all proper respect I say so, be it understood.</p> + +<p>"She was colouring up finely and holding tight to my master's hand. She +felt herself stared at it, and maybe feared they might look coldly on +her. But my lady had the word then. 'Oh, my dear!' cries she out, and +took my mistress into her arms and well-nigh wept over her. You ask +me why she should do so? I am bound to say I do not understand these +women's coils. She bore my mistress off into the house, and that was +the last I saw of them until the dinner-hour.</p> + +<p>"My lord had me in then to the winter-parlour. It was pretty to see +my mistress, pranked out in a gown of my lady's, lisping her broken +English to my lord, and ever and anon looking to Sir Nicholas to give +her a word she needed.</p> + +<p>"My lord was pleased to speak me very comfortable words, which had +not often been his wont towards me. I had a fat purse from him at a +more convenient time, but at this present he gave me thanks for having +brought his brother off safe. You may lay your life my master let out a +laugh at this, but my mistress gave me a rare smile, and vowed my lord +had reason. When I consider, I must allow he had. But modesty forbids +me to dwell on this.</p> + +<p>"What more? Little enough. We were off to London not so long after, and +I leave you to judge what Sir Francis said when he heard our tale. I +speak of Drake, the Admiral: you will have heard of him, maybe. What my +master told Master Secretary is a matter not revealed to me. Suffice it +that lean Walsingham rubbed his hands over it. Of that I am assured.</p> + +<p>"As I remember, the Court lay at Nonesuch, and thither we went. I +warrant you the Queen's Grace fairly crowed to see my master back, and, +as I heard, thought it a rare jest he should lay down Don Cristobal's +Golden Fleece at her feet.</p> + +<p>"'Is this the best that Spain can show, rogue?' says she. She hath a +merry, boisterous way when she is in the humour.</p> + +<p>"'Why, no, madam,' says my master, and brings her up his lady. 'This is +the best, madam, and as such I present her to you: your Grace's newest +subject.'</p> + +<p>"Maybe she was not so well pleased with that. I have heard it said that +her Grace never liked to see a personable man wed. Be that as it may, +she could not well turn pettish now. My mistress had a hand to kiss, +and got a tap on the cheek from her Grace's fan. 'How now, mistress?' +says her Grace. 'Do you shackle my bold mad Beauvallet?'</p> + +<p>"After which she had very little more to say to my lady, but kept my +master beside her a full hour, telling her how it had fared with us in +Spain.</p> + +<p>"In my opinion, the affair passed off better than might have been hoped +for, considering her Grace's high temper.</p> + +<p>"We were off soon after to Basing, where you see me now. Ay, we lie +snug enough, and if you remark that I am become a personage of some +note I am not to deny you. I do not say that my master shows this to +the world, for that is not at all his way, but I am bold to tell you +that I am very indispensable both to him and to my mistress. Which is +not at all to be wondered at, I hold. But we have never found a pair of +stocks with gold quirks about the ankles to match with those we lost at +Vasconosa, and I cannot but deem the throwing of them to the winds, as +it were, a very wanton piece of work. But thus it is always upon Sir +Nicholas' affairs."</p> + + +<p class="ph2">THE END</p> + +<p class="ph2">[Transcriber's Note: Inconsistent hyphenation left as printed.]</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + + +<p class="ph2">Pedigree of the <span class="smcap">House of Beauvallet</span> for those Readers who are +Interested in the Fortunes of the Descendants of SIMON THE COLDHEART, +1st Baron Beauvallet</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/familytree.jpg" alt=""> + <div class="larger-version"> + [<a id="family" href="images/familytree-larger.jpg">See larger version</a>] + </div> +</div> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1385, out of wedlock. Son of Geoffrey, Earl of Malvallet and of +Jehanne, a peasant. Fought at Shrewsbury as Squire to Fulk, Earl of +Montlice, and was Knighted 1403. Later acquired Barony of Beauvallet +in Bedfordshire. Was present at Battle of Agincourt and accompanied +Henry V on his Second Campaign to France. Captured Town and Castle of +Belrémy. <i>m.</i> 1421, Margaret, Countess of Belrémy, and returned with +her later to England. Domestic life somewhat Disturbed by Uncertain +Temper of Margaret and Unruly Behavour of his heir, Geoffrey (<i>q.v.</i>). +Was Greatly Addicted in Old Age to the Recounting of his Early +Reminiscences, and derived Considerable Enjoyment from the Perusal +of the Chronicles of his close friend Alan, Earl of Montlice. Was +frequently heard to Deplore the Effeminacy of the Younger Generation. +<i>d.</i> 1452, of the Stone, which he Suffered with Great Fortitude.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Geoffrey</span>, 2nd Baron</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1423. Early exhibited signs of his Mother's Violent Disposition, +and Rebelled frequently against the Iron Rule of his Father. Quarrelled +with his brother Henry (<i>q.v.</i>) and Bitterly Resented County of Belrémy +being bestowed on him. <i>m.</i> 1445, Alys, daughter of a Gentleman of +Inferior Lineage, thus enraging his Father. Soon became Permanently +Estranged from Simon as the Consequence of Embracing the Yorkist Party. +Steered a Perilous and Intricate Course through the Wars of the Roses, +and finally Deserted the Yorkist Cause upon the Mysterious Demise of +the Nephews of Richard III, which event he felt needed an Explanation +which was not Forthcoming. Opened communications with Henry, Earl of +Richmond but becoming Exasperated by the Cautious Policy of Henry, he +retired from Public Life, and spent the Remainder of his life upon his +Estates. <i>d.</i> 1486, of the Sweating-Sickness.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Henry</span>, Count of Belrémy</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1425. Believed firmly in the infallibility of his Father and +was always an Appreciative Auditor of his anecdotes. In consequence +of this Display of Filial Piety the lands and title of Belrémy were +Bestowed upon him. Made a Prudent Marriage in France and Maintained +a Dutiful Correspondence with his Father until the latter's Death in +1452. Disgusted with his Elder Brother's Vacillating Policy during the +Wars in England he cut off all Communication with him. The date of his +death is uncertain, but he left a Numerous Progeny, and was Universally +Lamented.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Margaret</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1426. Sided with her Eldest Brother against her Father and +Second Brother, and Quarrelled Incessantly with her Mother. <i>m.</i>, by +arrangement between Simon and Alan, Earl of Montlice, John, eldest son +of Alan. Several children were the result of this marriage, but John +died soon after his Accession to the title, and is Reported to have met +his End with a Smile on his Lips.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Alan</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1429. Tried to enact the part of Peacemaker between his Father +and Eldest Brother. He became a Priest and died (date unknown), in the +Obscurity of a Monastery. S.P.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">John</span>, 3rd Baron</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1446. Led a Retired Life throughout the Wars of the Roses and +devoted himself to the Study of Astrology. This so Preyed on his mind +that he died only three years after his Father, leaving no issue. S.P.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Joan</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1447. Was renowned for the beauty of her Person, and the Mildness +of her Disposition. <i>m.</i> Robert, Lord Pounceby, and by him had several +children. But the Tranquillity of her Married Life was Disturbed soon +by the Execution of her Husband, 1471, after the Battle of Barnet. She +then Dedicated her Life to the Performance of Good Works, and died, +lamented by all, 1489.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Henry</span>, 4th Baron</p> + +<p>Called the 'Iron-Handed.' <i>b.</i> 1450. Reputed to favour his Grandfather. +Early joined Henry, Earl of Richmond, in France, and afterwards +accompanied him to England. Took a prominent part in the Battle of +Bosworth, but was very Meagrely Rewarded for his services. Te amend +this Oversight on the part of Henry, he took as his 2nd Wife, Eleanor, +heiress of James, Earl of Malvallet, his 1st Wife having died without +issue. <i>d.</i> 1515, as the Result of a Fatal Fall in the Jousting Field, +to which Sport, even in old age, he was Extremely Partial.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Elizabeth</span></p> + +<p><i>d.</i> 1487. Became a Nun, in consequence of an Indiscretion.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Isabella</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1488. Displayed signs of Impetuosity in early youth, and during +one of her Father's absences from Home. Eloped with a Mere Esquire. +Soon found life Insupportable, and was Attacked by Melancholy, and +passed into a Decline. S.P.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Nicholas</span>, 5th Baron</p> + +<p>Called the "Good Baron." <i>b.</i> 1490. Led a Life of Great Piety, and +married, 1512, Joanna, daughter and co-heiress of Henry, Lord Alreston. +Formed various plans for the Advancement of the Family, but these were +Unhappily Frustrated. He ended his life on Tower Hill, 1539, as an +outcome of a Misunderstanding with Henry VIII.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Geoffrey</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1491. Died in Infancy, owing to Overtight Swaddling-Bands.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Joanna</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1513. Her Pious Disposition and Wise Judgment early led her Father +to Predict that she was Destined to be the Prop of his Declining Years. +This Prediction remained Unfulfilled (see 5th Baron), and the lady, +upon hearing the Dreadful News of her Father's Death, fell into a +Succession of Fits, which Permanently Impaired her Intellect. S.P.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Geoffrey</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1514. Shared his Father's Ambitions for the Advancement of the +Family, and Cherished Schemes for the Acquisition of an Earldom. +These being Frustrated by the Untimely End of his Father, and the +Confiscation of the Estates and Title, he shut himself off from the +World, and Dedicated the Remainder of his Life to Science. This was not +of long Duration, as he shortly afterwards met his End, owing to the +Unfortunate Outcome of the Combination of two Hitherto Undiscovered +Chemicals. S.P.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mary</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1516. Married when still a Child to a Gentleman of Respectable +Lineage. Her Calmness of Temper and Philosophical Outlook were the +Admiration of her Acquaintances. Upon hearing the News of her Father's +End she is Reported to have said: "There goes Joanna's Mission. God's +Will be done." Her brother's Fate, as a Martyr to Science, induced her +to remark that it might have been Foreseen from the First.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Henry</span>, 6th Baron</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1517. Upon the death of his Father he Prudently withdrew to the +Continent, but returned on hearing of his Brother's End, and by Careful +Policy won back the confiscated Title and Estates. <i>m.</i> 1547, Adela, +daughter of a Nobleman of Large Fortune, and managed to Survive the +Reigns of Edward VI and Mary I. His Foresight led him secretly to +Forsake the Old Religion during the latter years of Mary's reign, and +to open Tentative Communications with the Protestant Party. Owing to an +Unfortunate Remark he fell into Disfavour under Elizabeth, but managed +to reinstate himself by the Judicious Tender of a Handsome Present. He +afterwards withdrew to his Estates, but his latter years were Disturbed +by the Impetuous Conduct of his Younger Son, whose Daring Spirit, and +Astonishing Exploits occasioned him Grave Misgivings. He passed away, +1580, in the arms of his heir, Gerard, who was said greatly to resemble +him.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Nicholas</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1518. He was Destined for the Church, but displayed so Vehement a +Repugnance for the Vocation that the Project was abandoned. He Devoted +his Life to the Consumption of Sack, and died of a Surfeit upon the +Occasion of his Brother's Marriage. S.P.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Gerard</span>, 7th Baron</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1546.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Adela</span></p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1549.</p> + + +<p>NICHOLAS</p> + +<p><i>b.</i> 1551.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p class="ph2"><i>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</i></p> + + +<p class="ph2">THESE OLD SHADES<br> +SIMON THE COLDHEART<br> +THE MASQUERADERS<br> +THE GREAT ROXHYTHE<br> +THE BLACK MOTH<br> +HELEN<br> +PASTEL<br> +INSTEAD OF THE THORN</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75547 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75547-h/images/cover.jpg b/75547-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..161adab --- /dev/null +++ b/75547-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75547-h/images/familytree-larger.jpg b/75547-h/images/familytree-larger.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6aca34f --- /dev/null +++ b/75547-h/images/familytree-larger.jpg diff --git a/75547-h/images/familytree.jpg b/75547-h/images/familytree.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec2763b --- /dev/null +++ b/75547-h/images/familytree.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9959ee7 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #75547 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75547) |
