"
"And the dead man's followers allowed it?" He caught the note of
incredulity in her voice, but missed the note of relief with which
it was blent. "Oh, I don't believe the tale. I won't believe it!"
"I honour you for that, Miss Bishop. It strained my own belief that
men should be so callous, until this Cahusac afforded me the
explanation."
"What?" She checked her unbelief, an unbelief that had uplifted
her from an inexplicable dismay. Clutching the rail, she swung
round to face his lordship with that question. Later he was to
remember and perceive in her present behaviour a certain oddness
which went disregarded now.
"Blood purchased their consent, and his right to carry the girl
off. He paid them in pearls that were worth more than twenty
thousand pieces of eight." His lordship laughed again with a touch
of contempt. "A handsome price! Faith, they're scoundrels all
- just thieving, venal curs. And faith, it's a pretty tale this
for a lady's ear."
She looked away from him again, and found that her sight was
blurred.
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