sped him on his way, gave him the King’s best ship, wished him a favorable wind — to hell.”

“I was not ignorant that she was other than she seemed, and I remain contumacious.”

“Then,” he said shamelessly, “you’ll forgive me if in public, at least, I forswear your company? You’re plague-spotted, Captain Percy, and your friends may wish you well, but they must stay at home and burn juniper before their own doors.”

“I’ll forgive you,” I said, “when you ‘ve told me what the Governor will do.”

“Why, there’s the rub,” he answered. “Yeardley is the most obstinate man of my acquaintance.