ng! To send you, too, as his ambassador!"

"Please your Highness," interrupted Robin, "he did not send me, though
he knew of my coming. The man is watching by the side of his child."

"His child, said you--I heard he had but one, and that, through some
mystery, the girl was here, and----"

Cromwell would have added, "shot," but he remembered what Robin had
suffered at Hampton Court, when Barbara's death was mentioned before
him, and, though chafed at the picture he had himself drawn of the
ravages of the Buccaneer, yet the kind feelings of his nature prevented
his opening the green wound in the Ranger's heart. No matter what
distinction rank makes between man and man, Nature has instituted a
moral freemasonry, by which all her children understand the signals and
symptoms of goodness and greatness in each other's bosoms. Robin blessed
him for his forbearance with the fresh warm blessing of an affectionate
heart; and the blessing ascended to the Almighty's throne, although
breathed into no mortal ear!--it ascended, not on the wings of the wind,
for the wind heard it not; yet there it was, and there it remains,
registered in the book of life, amongst the few but holy offerings which
are paid to the mighty, in secret, by those who look to them for
aid,--whose homage is generally of the lip, not the heart.

After a pause, more full of meaning than if it had been crammed with
words, Robin said----

"Please your Highness, the girl is not dead, though badly wounded."

"I thank God!--I thank God for every blessing. Have you so said to the
Lady Constantia?"

"I did not like to mention it, yet, as I did not know----"

"Right, right," interrupted Cromwell, not permitting him to finish the
sentence, "a silent tongue is ever harmless, and with it there is
safety. But I must see Fleetword and the Jewess forthwith: say unto
Dalton that so I desire it."

"The Skipper has secrets touching this family in his keeping which I
have reason to think he will retain, unless----"

Wily as he was, Robin now paused, for he dreaded to rouse the
Protector's ire, and Cromwell, seeing his hesitation, exclaimed,

"Speak on--speak out, young man--this fellow would dictate to us--but
speak--speak, I say; what are his gracious terms?"

Although the last words were uttered in an ironical tone, Robin did
speak, and boldly.

"Pardon for himself, his registered followers, and safety for his ship;
I know such to be his feelings, and know he would