A moment." He wrote a hurried note. "That to Lord Willoughby
aboard Admiral van der Kuylen's flagship."
Major Mallard saluted and departed. Peter Blood sat back in his
chair and stared at the ceiling, frowning. Time moved on. Came
a tap at the door, and an elderly negro slave presented himself.
Would his excellency receive Miss Bishop?
His excellency changed colour. He sat quite still, staring at the
negro a moment, conscious that his pulses were drumming in a manner
wholly unusual to them. Then quietly he assented.
He rose when she entered, and if he was not as pale as she was, it
was because his tan dissembled it. For a moment there was silence
between them, as they stood looking each at the other. Then she
moved forward, and began at last to speak, haltingly, in an
unsteady voice, amazing in one usually so calm and deliberate.
"I... I... Major Mallard has just told me...."
"Major Mallard exceeded his duty," said Blood, and because of the
effort he made to steady his voice it sounded harsh and unduly loud.
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