Part 6 (1/2)
Faith! but she had a ith her which ever left me helpless, and no doubt al manner in which she fronted me At least I spoke no word, yet the proud look faded froive me, Geoffrey,” she whispered softly ”We do not doubt each other, yet I was over hasty of speech with one who has proven so loyal a friend”
”Nor have I aught to forgive, Madame, or more to say, except that er facing her I turned to where the watchful Capuchin stood
”And now, Sir Priest, I propose being perfectly frank with you, as I do not believe this a ti of words I am of Protestant blood; those of my line have ridden at Cromwell's back, and one of my name stood unrepentant at the stake when Laud turned Scotland into a slaughter-house So 't is safe to say I admire neither your robe nor your Order Yet the events of this day have gone far toward convincing arb you wear
So nohat say you--will you be coht?”
At the brutal bluntness of my speech and question--for I fear I took out upon his I ventured not to exploit with Mada how this same difference of faith had co into the priest's thin, wasted cheeks, and I could see how tightly his hands clinched about the crucifix at his girdle
”As toman, as that is born froravely,as frankly as yourself, I doubt if I would prove of much assistance upon a shi+p's deck; such effort as you propose for this night would be wholly foreign to my habit of life”
”Spoken truly; nor would I make choice of one with muscles so inert froive and take hard blows I ask you not upon the shi+p's deck at all, my friend, nor shall I require your coar warehouse of Bomanceaux et fils Still, it will require steady nerve to do even what little I require, and, if you doubt your courage, say so now, and I will seek a the slaves for stouter heart and readier hand”
That my words touched his pride I could read instantly in his uplifted face
”Nay, thou needest seek no further,” he announced briefly, his thin lips tightly pressed together ”I will go, Monsieur” I knew instantly by the bold ring of the words that henceforward I ht you would Now a question more, and then I must have food
Can you prepare for my use one of your robes?”
”Easily, Monsieur; Father Cassati left one behind at the chapter-house when he went aboard shi+p, and you do not greatly differ in point of size But is it possible thou proposest to turn priest, and of our Order?”
”In outward vesture reater liberty of arb, andYet, perchance, therethe priestly character, as well as of overestiy on board”
He shrugged his shoulders, nettled somewhat by ravely distrusting your naturalness in the wearing of a robe dedicated to religion,” he made answer ”But as for the otherthedisposition, over-fond of the bottle, in truth,--although it giveth me pain to speak thus of one of my own Order,--and I have been informed, moveth at his oill about the shi+p He is of the sort to be 'hail felloellSpaniards, who care little for God or man, as he possesseth few scruples of his own”
”Bear I sufficient resemblance to pass in his stead?”
”You are not unlike as to height and build; as to face, you are far the better featured With the cowl up it ht”
”My beauty has always been ood humor ”Nevertheless I shall be compelled to venture it this tis aboard are as you describe, for such a state of affairs reatly serve our purpose”
I turned away frohter hope into the ear of Eloise, where she sat in white-faced silence amid the deeper shadows of the portiere
CHAPTER V
ON THE DECK OF THE ”SANTA MARIA”
The Spanish sentries on the Place d'Arht when the priest and I stole silently past a trees I find it impossible, even now, after the lapse of years, to dwell upon e an errand My reluctant pen halts, while the tears, di my old eyes, bid me turn to other scenes However, under God, the venture of that nightinto her dear face for the last ti back unspoken those passionate utterances which burned upon ue I could ave so unreservedly into aze into the unfathomed depths of her dark eyes, and murmur a few broken words of confidence and farewell
Then, half blinded from emotion, I tore ht and peril for her dear sake
However uish as I stepped forth from that fateful house, the nature of the adventure upon which ere now fairly launched was sufficient to cool uard-lines drawn around the camp of Spanish artillery, I had become once more the cool, resourceful adventurer, as befitted