What does she want,
and whom does she bring?"
"We'll soon know," I answered, "for there goes her anchor."
Five minutes later a boat was lowered from the ship, and came
swiftly toward us. The boat had four rowers, and in the stern sat a
tall man, black-bearded, high-colored, and magnificently dressed.
It touched the sand some two hundred feet from the spot where
Governor, Councilors, officers, and a sprinkling of other sorts
stood staring at it, and at the great ship beyond. The man in the
stern leaped out, looked around him, and then walked toward us.
As he walked slowly, we had leisure to note the richness of his
doublet and cloak, - the one slashed, the other lined with scarlet
taffeta, - the arrogance of his mien and gait, and the superb
full-blooded beauty of his face.
"The handsomest man that ever I saw! " ejaculated the Governor.
Master Pory, standing beside him, drew in his breath, then puffed
it out again. "Handsome enough, your Honor," he said, "unless
handsome is as handsome does. That, gentlemen, is my Lord
Carnal, - that is the King's latest favorite."
CHAPTER VIII IN WHICH ENTERS MY LORD CARNAL
I FELT a touch upon my shoulder, and turned to find Mistress
Percy beside me. Her cheeks were white, her eyes aflame, her
whole frame tense. The passion that dominated her was so clearly
anger at white heat that I stared at her in amazement.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92