" And upon that he fell to pleading. But in
this he was crisply interrupted.
"By the Saints! Ye're a bold man, Don Francisco, to come to me
with such a tale - to tell me that ye know where the ransom's to be
raised, and yet to refuse to say. D'ye think now that with a match
between your fingers ye'd grow more communicative?"
If Don Francisco grew a shade paler, yet again he shook his head.
"That was the way of Morgan and L'Ollonais and other pirates. But
it is not the way of Captain Blood. If I had doubted that I should
not have disclosed so much."
The Captain laughed. "You old rogue," said he. "Ye play upon my
vanity, do you?"
"Upon your honour, Captain."
"The honour of a pirate? Ye're surely crazed!"
"The honour of Captain Blood," Don Francisco insisted. "You have
the repute of making war like a gentleman."
Captain Blood laughed again, on a bitter, sneering note that made
Don Francisco fear the worst. He was not to guess that it was
himself the Captain mocked.
"That's merely because it's more remunerative in the end.
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