Like Pilate, you wash your hands." He laughed savagely.
"Let Spain play the part of Pilate. Let her disclaim responsibility
for me, when your ambassador at the Escurial shall go whining to the
Supreme Council of this act of piracy by Don Miguel de Espinosa."
"Captain Blood and the rest are not admirals of England!" cried
Lord Julian.
"Are they not? How do I know? How does Spain know? Are you not
liars all, you English heretics?"
"Sir!" Lord Julian's voice was harsh as a rasp, his eyes flashed.
Instinctively he swung a hand to the place where his sword habitually
hung. Then he shrugged and sneered: "Of course," said he, "it sorts
with all I have heard of Spanish honour and all that I have seen of
yours that you should insult a man who is unarmed and your prisoner."
The Admiral's face flamed scarlet. He half raised his hand to strike.
And then, restrained, perhaps, by the very words that had cloaked the
retorting insult, he turned on his heel abruptly and went out without
answering.
CHAPTER XIX
THE MEETING
As the door slammed after the departing Admiral, Lord Julian turned
to Arabella, and actually smiled.
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