tly
with us, and give no trouble. I have experience of them, and I pledge
you my word for that."

M. de Rivarol condescended to be mollified. It was necessary that he
should save his face, and in a degree the Governor afforded him the
means to do so, as well as a certain guarantee for the future in the
further force he was raising.

"Very well," he said. "Be so good as to recall this Captain Blood."

The Captain came in, assured and very dignified. M. de Rivarol found him
detestable; but dissembled it.

"M. le Capitaine, I have taken counsel with M. le Gouverneur. From what
he tells me, it is possible that a mistake has been committed. Justice,
you may be sure, shall be done. To ensure it, I shall myself preside
over a council to be composed of two of my senior officers, yourself
and an officer of yours. This council shall hold at once an impartial
investigation into the affair, and the offender, the man guilty of
having given provocation, shall be punished."

Captain Blood bowed. It was not his wish to be extreme. "Perfectly, M.
le Baron. And now, sir, you have had the night for reflection in this
matter of the articles. Am I to understand that you confirm or that you
repudiate them?"

M. de Rivarol's eyes narrowed. His mind was full of what M. de Cussy had
said--that these buccaneers must prove the sharp edge of any weapon he
might forge. He could not dispense with them. He perceived that he
had blundered tactically in attempting to reduce the agreed share.
Withdrawal from a position of that kind is ever fraught with loss of
dignity. But there were those volunteers that M. de Cussy was enrolling
to strengthen the hand of the King's General. Their presence might admit
anon of the reopening of this question. Meanwhile he must retire in the
best order possible.

"I have considered that, too," he announced. "And whilst my opinion
remains unaltered, I must confess that since M. de Cussy has pledged us,
it is for us to fulfil the pledges. The articles are confirmed, sir."

Captain Blood bowed again. In vain M. de Rivarol looked searchingly
for the least trace of a smile of triumph on those firm lips. The
buccaneer's face remained of the utmost gravity.

Wolverstone was set at liberty that afternoon, and his assailant
sentenced to two months' detention. Thus harmony was restored. But it
had been an unpromising beginning, and there was more to follow shortly
of a similar discordant kind.

Blood and his officers w