may not defy him. You are to be taken into custody within six
hours of the reading of the letter, to be kept straitly until the
sailing of the Santa Teresa, and to be sent home aboard of her in irons.
The lady is to go also, with all honor, and with women to attend her.
Upon reaching London, you are to be sent to the Tower, the lady to
Whitehall. The Court of High Commission will take the matter under
consideration at once. My Lord of Southampton writes that, because of
the urgent entreaty of Sir George Yeardley, he will do for you all that
lieth in his power, but that if you prove not yourself conformable,
there will be little that any can do."

"When will the marshal be here?" I demanded.

"Directly. The Governor was sending for him when I left the window.
Master Rolfe spoke vehemently for you, and would have left the Council
to come to you; but the Governor, swearing that the Company should not
be betrayed by its officers, constrained him to remain. I'm not the
Company's officer, so I may tell its orders if I please. A masterless
man may speak without fear or favor. I have told you all I know." Before
I could speak he was gone, closing the door heavily behind him.

I turned to the King's ward. She had risen from the chair, and now stood
in the centre of the room, one hand at her bosom, the other clenched at
her side, her head thrown up. She looked as she had looked at Weyanoke,
that first night.

"Madam," I said under my breath.

She turned her face upon me. "Did you think," she asked in a low,
even voice,--"did you think that I would ever set my foot upon that
ship,--that ship on the river there? One ship brought me here upon
a shameful errand; another shall not take me upon one more shameful
still."

She took her hand from her bosom; in it gleamed in the firelight the
small dagger I had given her that night. She laid it on the table, but
kept her hand upon it. "You will choose for me, sir," she declared.

I went to the door and looked out. "It is a wild night," I said. "I
can suit it with as wild an enterprise. Make a bundle of your warmest
clothing, madam, and wrap your mantle about you. Will you take Angela?"

"No," she answered. "I will not have her peril too upon me."

As she stood there, her hand no longer upon the dagger, the large tears
welled into her eyes and fell slowly over her white cheeks. "It is for
mine honor, sir," she said. "I know that I ask your death."

I could not bear to see her we