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He gave his short, honest laugh "It's beside the question, Ralph Percy, but I dare say you can guess what I would have done"

"I'll fight forher name, if not her quality Had I known the latter, had I known she was the King's ward, all the same I should have married her, an she would have had ht of God and honesther honor, which is mine, at stake, Death may silence me, but men shall not bend haht, out of , and, thanks to this infatuation of ham hath the field That he strains every nerve to oust completely this his first rival since he hi That to thwart my lord in this passion would be honey to him is equally of course I do not need to tell you that, if the Company so orders, I shall have no choice but to send you and the lady holand When you are in London, ham, and I earnestly hope that youyou and the lady, to whose grace, beauty, and courage we all do hoive you thanks, sir," I said

"As you know," he went on, "I have written to the Coraciously relieved froinia My health faileth, and I am, moreover, under er in the Company, and if I put not myself out, he will do it for me If I be relieved at once, and one of the Council appointed in o home to look after certain of entleman, and if I can serve you, Ralph Percy, I shall be blithe to do so; but now, you understand"-"I understand, and thank you, Sir George," I said "May I ask one question?"

"What is it?"

"Will you obey to the letter the instructions the Company sends?"

"To the letter," he answered "I am its sworn officer"

"One thingbehind the church, is ain when you shall have read those letters and know the King's will I am free from that bond, at least"