As if he
had told me, I knew that he had thrown his scruples to the winds,
and that he cared not what foul play he used to sweep me from his
path. My spirit and my wit rose to meet the danger. Of a sudden I
resolved to accept his invitation.
"So be it," I said, with a laugh and a shrug of my shoulders. "A cup
of wine is no great matter. I'll take it at your hands, my lord, and
drink to our better acquaintance."
We all three went up into my lord's room. The King had fitted out
his minion bravely for the Virginia voyage, and the riches that had
decked the state cabin aboard the Santa Teresa now served to
transform the bare room in the guest house at Jamestown into a
corner of Whitehall. The walls were hung with arras, there was a
noble carpet beneath as well as upon the table, and against the wall
stood richly carved trunks. On the table, beside a bowl of late
flowers were a great silver flagon and a number of goblets, some
of chased silver and some of colored glass, strangely shaped and
fragile as an eggshell. The late sun now shining in at the open
window made the glass to glow like precious stones.
My lord rang a little silver bell, and a door behind us was opened.
"Wine, Giles!" cried my lord in a raised voice. "Wine for Master
Pory, Captain Percy, and myself! And Giles, my two choice
goblets."
Giles, whom I had never seen before, advanced to the table, took
the flagon, and went toward the door, which he had shut behind
him.
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