he labourer is worthy of his hire, to
give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies
by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant
daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the
charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a
multitude of sins!"

The conference was once more growing warm, when fortunately, it was
abridged by the sudden entrance of a man not unlike Lempriere in general
appearance, though taller and many years his junior. He wore a steel
cap, a gorget, and a buff coat; and received a hearty welcome from the
Jerseyman, by whom he was presented to Prynne.

"Captain Le Gallais is newly arrived from our island," said Lempriere,
"and I made bold to leave word that I was here, in case of his coming to
my lodgings while I tarried with you. He brings me news of 'domus et
placens uxor,'" added the speaker, taking with a sad smile the letter
which Le Gallais handed him. The servant having brought a third long
stalked glass and placed it on the table, left the room once more, as
the visitor, unbuckling his long basket-hilted sword, threw himself into
a high-backed chair, and stretched his limbs, as one who rests after
long travel.

"I am come post," said he, "from Southampton. There is that to do in
Jersey which it imports the rulers of this land to know."

"That may well be," observed Lempriere, who shared his countryman's
idea of the importance of their little island. "But how fares my Rose? A
wanderer may love his Ithaca, but he loves his wife most. Have I your
leave, Mr. Prynne, to examine this missive?"

Prynne bowed, and Lempriere cut open his letter.

"Penelope maketh such cheer as she may," he added, after glancing at the
contents: "but I see nothing of your mighty news, Alain."

"The letter was written before I learned the same. The return of Ulysses
did not then seem so far as it does now."

"Leave riddling, Alain, and let us know the worst."

"The worst is, Charles Stuart is in S. Helier, with a large power,
warmly received by Sir George, and holding the island as a tool of
Jermyn and the Queen, if not a pensioner of France. I saw his barge row
into the harbour at high tide, followed by others laden with silken
courtiers and musicians; horse-boats and cook-boats swelled the train;
the great guns of the Castle fired salvoes, and the militia stood to
their arms upon the quay, with drums beating, fifes squeaking,