es were drawn
up and signed that very day. The buccaneers were to be at Petit Goave
by the end of January, when M. de Rivarol had announced that he might be
expected.

After that followed days of activity in Tortuga, refitting the ships,
boucanning meat, laying in stores. In these matters which once would
have engaged all Captain Blood's attention, he now took no part.
He continued listless and aloof. If he had given his consent to the
undertaking, or, rather, allowed himself to be swept into it by the
wishes of his officers--it was only because the service offered was of a
regular and honourable kind, nowise connected with piracy, with which he
swore in his heart that he had done for ever. But his consent remained
passive. The service entered awoke no zeal in him. He was perfectly
indifferent--as he told Hagthorpe, who ventured once to offer a
remonstrance--whether they went to Petit Goave or to Hades, and whether
they entered the service of Louis XIV or of Satan.

CHAPTER XXVI. M. de RIVAROL

Captain Blood was still in that disgruntled mood when he sailed from
Tortuga, and still in that mood when he came to his moorings in the bay
of Petit Goave. In that same mood he greeted M. le Baron de Rivarol when
this nobleman with his fleet of five men-of-war at last dropped anchor
alongside the buccaneer ships, in the middle of February. The Frenchman
had been six weeks on the voyage, he announced, delayed by unfavourable
weather.

Summoned to wait on him, Captain Blood repaired to the Castle of
Petit Goave, where the interview was to take place. The Baron, a tall,
hawk-faced man of forty, very cold and distant of manner, measured
Captain Blood with an eye of obvious disapproval. Of Hagthorpe,
Yberville, and Wolverstone who stood ranged behind their captain, he
took no heed whatever. M. de Cussy offered Captain Blood a chair.

"A moment, M. de Cussy. I do not think M. le Baron has observed that
I am not alone. Let me present to you, sir, my companions: Captain
Hagthorpe of the Elizabeth, Captain Wolverstone of the Atropos, and
Captain Yberville of the Lachesis."

The Baron stared hard and haughtily at Captain Blood, then very
distantly and barely perceptibly inclined his head to each of the other
three. His manner implied plainly that he despised them and that he
desired them at once to understand it. It had a curious effect upon
Captain Blood. It awoke the devil in him, and it awoke at the same time
his self-res