"We all owe you thanks for last night's service, sir," said Winter, who had for some good reasons changed his tone."Your prisoner is found to be a gentleman of birth and experience, and the leader of the assault last night.He has already told us more than we had hoped, for which also we are beholden to you; and, indeed, my Lord Grey has been asking for you already.""I have, young sir," said a quiet and lofty voice; and Amyas saw limping from the inner tent the proud and stately figure of the stern deputy, Lord Grey of Wilton, a brave and wise man, but with a naturally harsh temper, which had been soured still more by the wound which had crippled him, while yet a boy, at the battle of Leith.He owed that limp to Mary Queen of Scots; and he did not forget the debt.
"I have been asking for you; having heard from many, both of your last night's prowess, and of your conduct and courage beyond the promise of your years, displayed in that ever-memorable voyage, which may well be ranked with the deeds of the ancient Argonauts."Amyas bowed low; and the lord deputy went on, "You will needs wish to see your prisoner.You will find him such a one as you need not be ashamed to have taken, and as need not be ashamed to have been taken by you: but here he is, and will, I doubt not, answer as much for himself.Know each other better, gentlemen both: last night was an ill one for ****** acquaintances.Don Guzman Maria Magdalena Sotomayor de Soto, know the hidalgo, Amyas Leigh!"As he spoke, the Spaniard came forward, still in his armor, all save his head, which was bound up in a handkerchief.
He was an exceedingly tall and graceful personage, of that sangre azul which marked high Visigothic descent; golden-haired and fair-skinned, with hands as small and white as a woman's; his lips were delicate but thin, and compressed closely at the corners of the mouth; and his pale blue eye had a glassy dulness.In spite of his beauty and his carriage, Amyas shrank from him instinctively; and yet he could not help holding out his hand in return, as the Spaniard, holding out his, said languidly, in most sweet and sonorous Spanish--"I kiss his hands and feet.The senor speaks, I am told, my native tongue?""I have that honor."
"Then accept in it (for I can better express myself therein than in English, though I am not altogether ignorant of that witty and learned language) the expression of my pleasure at having fallen into the hands of one so renowned in war and travel; and of one also," he added, glancing at Amyas's giant bulk, "the vastness of whose strength, beyond that of common mortality, makes it no more shame for me to have been overpowered and carried away by him than if my captor had been a paladin of Charlemagne's."Honest Amyas bowed and stammered, a little thrown off his balance by the unexpected assurance and cool flattery of his prisoner; but he said--"If you are satisfied, illustrious senor, I am bound to be so.Ionly trust that in my hurry and the darkness I have not hurt you unnecessarily."The Don laughed a pretty little hollow laugh: "No, kind senor, my head, I trust, will after a few days have become united to my shoulders; and, for the present, your company will make me forget any slight discomfort.""Pardon me, senor; but by this daylight I should have seen that armor before.""I doubt it not, senor, as having been yourself also in the forefront of the battle," said the Spaniard, with a proud smile.
"If I am right, senor, you are he who yesterday held up the standard after it was shot down.""I do not deny that undeserved honor; and I have to thank the courtesy of you and your countrymen for having permitted me to do so with impunity.""Ah, I heard of that brave feat," said the lord deputy."You should consider yourself, Mr.Leigh, honored by being enabled to show courtesy to such a warrior."How long this interchange of solemn compliments, of which Amyas was getting somewhat weary, would have gone on, I know not; but at that moment Raleigh entered hastily--"My lord, they have hung out a white flag, and are calling for a parley!"The Spaniard turned pale, and felt for his sword, which was gone;and then, with a bitter laugh, murmured to himself--"As Iexpected."
"I am very sorry to hear it.Would to Heaven they had simply fought it out!" said Lord Grey, half to himself; and then, "Go, Captain Raleigh, and answer them that (saving this gentleman's presence) the laws of war forbid a parley with any who are leagued with rebels against their lawful sovereign.""But what if they wish to treat for this gentleman's ransom?""For their own, more likely," said the Spaniard; "but tell them, on my part, senor, that Don Guzman refuses to be ransomed; and will return to no camp where the commanding officer, unable to infect his captains with his own cowardice, dishonors them against their will.""You speak sharply, senor," said Winter, after Raleigh had gone out.
"I have reason, Senor Admiral, as you will find, I fear, erelong.""We shall have the honor of leaving you here, for the present, sir, as Admiral Winter's guest," said the lord deputy.
"But not my sword, it seems."
"Pardon me, senor; but no one has deprived you of your sword," said Winter.
"I don't wish to pain you, sir," said Amyas, "but I fear that we were both careless enough to leave it behind last night."A flash passed over the Spaniard's face, which disclosed terrible depths of fury and hatred beneath that quiet mask, as the summer lightning displays the black abysses of the thunder-storm; but like the summer lightning it passed almost unseen; and blandly as ever, he answered:
"I can forgive you for such a neglect, most valiant sir, more easily than I can forgive myself.Farewell, sir! One who has lost his sword is no fit company for you." And as Amyas and the rest departed, he plunged into the inner tent, stamping and writhing, gnawing his hands with rage and shame.
As Amyas came out on the battery, Yeo hailed him:
"Master Amyas! Hillo, sir! For the love of Heaven, tell me!""What, then?"