d perhaps dispense with your testimony."

"In that, my lord, I assure you that you are mistaken," she answered.
"You cannot dispense with it."

"Be it so, then," said Sir John grimly, and he strode back to the table,
prepared to take his place there.

Lord Henry's twinkling blue eyes were still considering Rosamund
somewhat searchingly, his fingers tugging thoughtfully at his short
tuft of ashen-coloured beard. Then he turned to the door. "Come in,
gentlemen," he said, "and bid them bring up the prisoner."

Steps clanked upon the deck, and three of Sir John's officers made their
appearance to complete the court that was to sit in judgment upon the
renegade corsair, a judgment whose issue was foregone.

CHAPTER XXV. THE ADVOCATE

Chairs were set at the long brown table of massive oak, and the
officers sat down, facing the open door and the blaze of sunshine on
the poop-deck, their backs to the other door and the horn windows which
opened upon the stern-gallery. The middle place was assumed by Lord
Henry Goade by virtue of his office of Queen's Lieutenant, and the
reason for his chain of office became now apparent. He was to preside
over this summary court. On his right sat Sir John Killigrew, and
beyond him an officer named Youldon. The other two, whose names have not
survived, occupied his lordship's left.

A chair had been set for Rosamund at the table's extreme right and
across the head of it, so as to detach her from the judicial bench. She
sat there now, her elbows on the polished board, her face resting in her
half-clenched hands, her eyes scrutinizing the five gentlemen who formed
this court.

Steps rang on the companion, and a shadow fell athwart the sunlight
beyond the open door. From the vessel's waist came a murmur of voices
and a laugh. Then Sir Oliver appeared in the doorway guarded by two
fighting seamen in corselet and morion with drawn swords.

He paused an instant in the doorway, and his eyelids flickered as if he
had received a shock when his glance alighted upon Rosamund. Then under
the suasion of his guards he entered, and stood forward, his wrists
still pinioned behind him, slightly in advance of the two soldiers.

He nodded perfunctorily to the court, his face entirely calm.

"A fine morning, sirs," said he.

The five considered him in silence, but Lord Henry's glance, as it
rested upon the corsair's Muslim garb, was eloquent of the scorn which
he tells us filled his heart.