"
His very tone betrayed the bitterness of his rancour. "Your motives
were no doubt worthy... your gratitude to him for delivering you
from the Spaniards. But the thing itself is unthinkable, my lord.
The commission must be cancelled."
"I don't think I understand," said Lord Julian distantly.
"To be sure you don't, or you'd never ha' done it. The fellow's
bubbled you. Why, he's first a rebel, then an escaped slave, and
lastly a bloody pirate. I've been hunting him this year past."
"I assure you, sir, that I was fully informed of all. I do not
grant the King's commission lightly."
"Don't you, by God! And what else do you call this? But as His
Majesty's Deputy-Governor of Jamaica, I'll take leave to correct
your mistake in my own way."
"Ah! And what way may that be?"
"There's a gallows waiting for this rascal in Port Royal."
Blood would have intervened at that, but Lord Julian forestalled him.
"I see, sir, that you do not yet quite apprehend the circumstances.
If it is a mistake to grant Captain Blood a commission, the mistake
is not mine.
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