"I do not number thieves and pirates among my acquaintance, Captain
Blood," said she; whereupon his lordship exploded in excitement.
"Captain Blood!" he cried. "Are you Captain Blood?"
"What else were ye supposing?"
Blood asked the question wearily, his mind on other things. "I do
not number thieves and pirates among my acquaintance." The cruel
phrase filled his brain, reechoing and reverberating there.
But Lord Julian would not be denied. He caught him by the sleeve
with one hand, whilst with the other he pointed after the retreating,
dejected figure of Don Miguel.
"Do I understand that ye're not going to hang that Spanish scoundrel?"
"What for should I be hanging him?"
"Because he's just a damned pirate, as I can prove, as I have proved
already."
"Ah!" said Blood, and Lord Julian marvelled at the sudden haggardness
of a countenance that had been so devil-may-care but a few moments
since. "I am a damned pirate, myself; and so I am merciful with my
kind. Don Miguel goes free."
Lord Julian gasped.
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