derment.

"What d' ye make of her, Percy?" he said. "The Company does n't send
servants, felons, 'prentices, or maids in such craft; no, nor officers
or governors, either. It's the King's ship, sure enough, but what is she
doing here?--that 's the question. What does she want, and whom does she
bring?"

"We'll soon know," I answered, "for there goes her anchor."

Five minutes later a boat was lowered from the ship, and came swiftly
toward us. The boat had four rowers, and in the stern sat a tall man,
black-bearded, high-colored, and magnificently dressed. It touched the
sand some two hundred feet from the spot where Governor, Councilors,
officers, and a sprinkling of other sorts stood staring at it, and at
the great ship beyond. The man in the stern leaped out, looked around
him, and then walked toward us. As he walked slowly, we had leisure to
note the richness of his doublet and cloak,--the one slashed, the other
lined with scarlet taffeta,--the arrogance of his mien and gait, and the
superb full-blooded beauty of his face.

"The handsomest man that ever I saw!" ejaculated the Governor.

Master Pory, standing beside him, drew in his breath, then puffed it out
again. "Handsome enough, your Honor," he said, "unless handsome is as
handsome does. That, gentlemen, is my Lord Carnal,--that is the King's
latest favorite."

CHAPTER VIII IN WHICH ENTERS MY LORD CARNAL

I FELT a touch upon my shoulder, and turned to find Mistress Percy
beside me. Her cheeks were white, her eyes aflame, her whole frame
tense. The passion that dominated her was so clearly anger at white heat
that I stared at her in amazement. Her hand slid from my shoulder to the
bend of my arm and rested there. "Remember that I am your wife, sir,"
she said in a low, fierce voice,--"your kind and loving wife. You said
that your sword was mine; now bring your wit to the same service!"

There was not time to question her meaning. The man whose position in
the realm had just been announced by the Secretary, and of whom we had
all heard as one not unlikely to supplant even Buckingham himself, was
close at hand. The Governor, headpiece in hand, stepped forward; the
other swept off his Spanish hat; both bowed profoundly.

"I speak to his Honor the Governor of Virginia?" inquired the newcomer.
His tone was offhand, his hat already back upon his head.

"I am George Yeardley, at my Lord Carnal's service," answered the
Governor.

The favorite raised his