at all?"

His lordship conceived that the fellow's truculence and utter lack
of proper deference must be corrected. "I am Lord Julian Wade," he
announced, with that object.

Apparently the announcement made no impression.

"Are you, indeed! Then perhaps ye'll explain what the plague you're
doing aboard this ship?"

Lord Julian controlled himself to afford the desired explanation. He did
so shortly and impatiently.

"He took you prisoner, did he--along with Miss Bishop there?"

"You are acquainted with Miss Bishop?" cried his lordship, passing from
surprise to surprise.

But this mannerless fellow had stepped past him, and was making a leg
to the lady, who on her side remained unresponsive and forbidding to
the point of scorn. Observing this, he turned to answer Lord Julian's
question.

"I had that honour once," said he. "But it seems that Miss Bishop has a
shorter memory."

His lips were twisted into a wry smile, and there was pain in the blue
eyes that gleamed so vividly under his black brows, pain blending with
the mockery of his voice. But of all this it was the mockery alone that
was perceived by Miss Bishop; she resented it.

"I do not number thieves and pirates among my acquaintance, Captain
Blood," said she; whereupon his lordship exploded in excitement.

"Captain Blood!" he cried. "Are you Captain Blood?"

"What else were ye supposing?"

Blood asked the question wearily, his mind on other things. "I do not
number thieves and pirates among my acquaintance." The cruel phrase
filled his brain, reechoing and reverberating there.

But Lord Julian would not be denied. He caught him by the sleeve
with one hand, whilst with the other he pointed after the retreating,
dejected figure of Don Miguel.

"Do I understand that ye're not going to hang that Spanish scoundrel?"

"What for should I be hanging him?"

"Because he's just a damned pirate, as I can prove, as I have proved
already."

"Ah!" said Blood, and Lord Julian marvelled at the sudden haggardness of
a countenance that had been so devil-may-care but a few moments since.
"I am a damned pirate, myself; and so I am merciful with my kind. Don
Miguel goes free."

Lord Julian gasped. "After what I've told you that he has done? After
his sinking of the Royal Mary? After his treatment of me--of us?" Lord
Julian protested indignantly.

"I am not in the service of England, or of any nation, sir. And I am not
concerned with any wrongs her flag may s