which mightily pleaseth his Majesty. Whoops on the Spanish match, too, and, wonderful past all whooping, from the prince’s detestation hath become his bosom friend. Small wonder if my Lord Carnal thinks it’s time he was back at Whitehall.”

“Let him go, then,” I said. “There’s his ship that brought him here.”

“Ay, there ‘s his ship,” rejoined Master Pory. “A few weeks more, and the Due Return will be here with the Company’s commands. D’ ye think, Captain Percy, that there’s the slightest doubt as to their tenor?”

“No.”

“Then my lord has but to possess his soul with patience and wait for the Due Return. No doubt he’ll