"You are no doubt aware, sir," said Sir John after a long pause, "of the
purpose for which you have been brought hither."

"Scarcely," said the prisoner. "But I have no doubt whatever of the
purpose for which I shall presently be taken hence. However," he
continued, cool and critical, "I can guess from your judicial attitudes
the superfluous mockery that you intend. If it will afford you
entertainment, faith, I do not grudge indulging you. I would observe
only that it might be considerate in you to spare Mistress Rosamund the
pain and weariness of the business that is before you."

"Mistress Rosamund herself desired to be present," said Sir John,
scowling.

"Perhaps," said Sir Oliver, "she does not realize...."

"I have made it abundantly plain to her," Sir John interrupted, almost
vindictively.

The prisoner looked at her as if in surprise, his brows knit. Then with
a shrug he turned to his judges again.

"In that case," said he, "there's no more to be said. But before you
proceed, there is another matter upon which I desire an understanding.

"The terms of my surrender were that all others should be permitted to
go free. You will remember, Sir John, that you pledged me your knightly
word for that. Yet I find aboard here one who was lately with me upon my
galeasse--a sometime English seaman, named Jasper Leigh, whom you hold a
prisoner."

"He killed Master Lionel Tressilian," said Sir John coldly

"That may be, Sir John. But the blow was delivered before I made my
terms with you, and you cannot violate these terms without hurt to your
honour."

"D'ye talk of honour, sir?" said Lord Henry.

"Of Sir John's honour, my lord," said the prisoner, with mock humility.

"You are here, sir, to take your trial," Sir John reminded him.

"So I had supposed. It is a privilege for which you agreed to pay
a certain price, and now it seems you have been guilty of filching
something back. It seems so, I say. For I cannot think but that the
arrest was inadvertently effected, and that it will suffice that I draw
your attention to the matter of Master Leigh's detention."

Sir John considered the table. It was beyond question that he was in
honour bound to enlarge Master Leigh, whatever the fellow might have
done; and, indeed, his arrest had been made without Sir John's knowledge
until after the event.

"What am I do with him?" he growled sullenly.

"That is for yourself to decide, Sir John. But I can tell you what you
m