e your blood upon my soul."

There was yet wine upon the table. I filled a cup and brought it to her.
"Drink!" I commanded.

"I have much of forbearance, much of courtesy, to thank you for," she
said. "I will remember it when--Do not think that I shall blame you"--

I held the cup to her lips. "Drink!" I repeated. She touched the red
wine with her lips. I took it from her and put it to my own. "We drink
of the same cup," I said, with my eyes upon hers, and drained it to the
bottom. "I am weary of swords and courts and kings. Let us go into the
garden and watch the minister's bees."

CHAPTER X IN WHICH MASTER PORY GAINS TIME TO SOME PURPOSE

ROLFE coming down by boat from Varina, had reached the town in the dusk
of that day which had seen the arrival of the Santa Teresa, and I had
gone to him before I slept that night. Early morning found us together
again in the field behind the church. We had not long to wait in the
chill air and dew-drenched grass. When the red rim of the sun showed
like a fire between the trunks of the pines came my Lord Carnal, and
with him Master Pory and Dr. Lawrence Bohun.

My lord and I bowed to each other profoundly. Rolfe with my sword and
Master Pory with my lord's stepped aside to measure the blades. Dr.
Bohun, muttering something about the feverishness of the early air,
wrapped his cloak about him, and huddled in among the roots of a
gigantic cedar. I stood with my back to the church, and my face to the
red water between us and the illimitable forest; my lord opposite me,
six feet away. He was dressed again splendidly in black and scarlet,
colors he much affected, and, with the dark beauty of his face and the
arrogant grace with which he stood there waiting for his sword, made a
picture worth looking upon.

Rolfe and the Secretary came back to us. "If you kill him, Ralph," said
the former in a low voice, as he took my doublet from me, "you are to
put yourself in my hands and do as you are bid."

"Which means that you will try to smuggle me north to the Dutch. Thanks,
friend, but I'll see the play out here."

"You were ever obstinate, self-willed, reckless--and the man most to my
heart," he continued. "Have your way, in God's name, but I wish not to
see what will come of it! All's ready, Master Secretary."

Very slowly that worthy stooped down and examined the ground, narrowly
and quite at his leisure. "I like it not, Master Rolfe," he declared at
length. "Here is a molehill