eyebrows. "I don't need to introduce myself, it
seems," he said. "You've found that I am not the devil, after all,--at
least not the Spanish Apollyon. Zooks! a hawk above a poultry yard could
n't have caused a greater commotion than did my poor little ship and my
few poor birding pieces! Does every strange sail so put you through your
paces?"

The Governor's color mounted. "We are not at home," he answered stiffly.
"Here we are few and weak and surrounded by many dangers, and have need
to be vigilant, being planted, as it were, in the very grasp of that
Spain who holds Europe in awe, and who claims this land as her own. That
we are here at all is proof enough of our courage, my lord."

The other shrugged his shoulders. "I don't doubt your mettle," he said
negligently. "I dare say it matches your armor."

His glance had rested for a moment upon the battered headpiece and
ancient rusty breastplate with which Master Jeremy Sparrow was bedight.

"It is something antique, truly, something out of fashion," remarked
that worthy,--"almost as out of fashion as courtesy from guests, or
respect for dignities from my-face-is-my-fortune minions and lords on
carpet considerations."

The hush of consternation following this audacious speech was broken by
a roar of laughter from the favorite himself. "Zounds!" he cried, "your
courage is worn on your sleeve, good giant! I'll uphold you to face
Spaniards, strappado, rack, galleys, and all!"

The bravado with which he spoke, the insolence of his bold glance and
curled lip, the arrogance with which he flaunted that King's favor which
should be a brand more infamous than the hangman's, his beauty, the pomp
of his dress,--all were alike hateful. I hated him then, scarce knowing
why, as I hated him afterward with reason.

He now pulled from the breast of his doublet a packet, which he
proffered the Governor. "From the King, sir," he announced, in the
half-fierce, half--mocking tone he had made his own. "You may read it at
your leisure. He wishes you to further me in a quest upon which I have
come."

The Governor took the packet with reverence. "His Majesty's will is our
law," he said. "Anything that lies in our power, sir; though if you come
for gold"--

The favorite laughed again. "I've come for a thing a deal more precious,
Sir Governor,--a thing worth more to me than all the treasure of the
Indies with Manoa and El Dorado thrown in,--to wit, the thing upon which
I've set my mind