to Liberty, as
witness these indentures," and with a starched smile he pointed to the
marks upon his face. "I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir
George Cartwright...."

"Let us not talk of him," answered the other, with a flush on his
swarthy cheek. "I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs
entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When
his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the
Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be
a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath
made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people,
but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve
parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside
his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at
an easy farm."

"I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such
a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip's
ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain
speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and
would, under God's pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause
of reasonable freedom."

"I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne.
This wise man hath said that 'the simple believeth every word.' But if
we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we
might say 'that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret
when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.' And farther, it hath even
been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of
that for which you suffered."

"It skills not," answered the host, with evident self-control, "it
skills not to rake into that which is passed."

"Neither did I seek to do so," rejoined the Jerseyman, "I seek no
offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight's spirit, and whether
he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me
have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the
affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present
successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a
kinsman or creature of his own?"

"Methinks," said Prynne, shrewdly, "there be others than he who would
gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes."

"That may be," said Lempriere. "T