ith the company boat, and here we be."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Oh, I get work enough on the docks to pay for Mizza's lessons--"

"Lessons?"

"Yes--she's learning sewin' and readin' from the nuns, and as soon as
she's baptized we're going to be married regular."

"Oh!" A sigh of relief escaped me. "Then you'll not need Rebecca for
six months or so?"

"No; but you'll ask her?" pleaded Jack.

"If I'm here."

As they were going out Jack slipped back from the hallway to the
fireplace, leaving Mizza outside.

"Ramsay?"

"Yes?"

"You think--it's--it's--all right?"

"What?"

"What I done about a mate?"

"Right?" I reiterated. "Here's my hand to you--blessing on the voyage,
Captain Jack Battle!"

"Ah," smiled Jack, "you've been to the wilderness--you understand!
Other folks don't! That is the way it happens out there!"

He lingered as of old when there was more to come.

"Ramsay?"

"Sail away, captain!"

"Have you seen Hortense?" he asked, looking straight at me.

"Um--yes--no--that is--I have and I haven't."

"Why haven't you?"

"Because having become a grand lady, her ladyship didn't choose to see
me."

Jack Battle turned on his heel and swore a seaman's oath.
"That--that's a lie," said he.

"Very well--it's a lie, but this is what happened," and I told him of
the scene in the theatre. Jack pulled a puzzled face, looking askance
as he listened.

"Why didn't you go round to her box, the way M. Radisson did to the
king's?"

"You forget I am only a trader!"

"Pah," says Jack, "that is nothing!"

"You forget that Lieutenant Blood might have objected to my visit," and
I told him of Blood.

"But how was Mistress Hortense to know that?"

Wounded pride hugs its misery, and I answered nothing.

At the door he stopped. "You go along with Radisson to Oxford," he
called. "The court will be there."

CHAPTER XXVI

AT OXFORD

Rioting through London streets or playing second in M. Radisson's games
of empire, it was possible to forget her, but not in Oxford with the
court retinue all about and the hedgerows abloom and spring-time in the
air. M. Radisson had gone to present his reports to the king. With a
vague belief that chance might work some miracle, I accompanied M.
Radisson till we encountered the first belaced fellow of the King's
Guard. 'Twas outside the porter's lodge of the grand house where the
king had been pleased to breakfast that morning.

"And what mi