"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 do so."
"No doubt he'll do so," I echoed.
By this we had reached the Secretary's own door. "Fortune favor
you with the Paspaheghs!" he said, with another mighty yawn. "As
for me, I'll to bed. Do you ever dream, Captain Percy? I don't; mine
is too good a conscience. But if I did, I should dream of an Italian
doctor."
The door shut upon his red face and bright eyes. I walked rapidly
on down the street to the minister's house. The light was very pale
as yet, and house and garden lay beneath a veil of mist. No one
was stirring. I went on through the gray wet paths to the stable, and
roused Diccon.
"Saddle Black Lamoral quickly," I ordered. "There's trouble with
the Paspaheghs, and I am off with Master Rolfe to settle it."
"Am I to go with you?" he asked.
I shook my head. "We have a dozen men. There's no need of
more."
I left him busy with the horse, and went to the house. In the hall I
found the negress strewing the floor with fresh rushes, and asked
her if her mistress yet slept.
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