oks, with a view to ascertaining precisely what
were the sums yet to be delivered up. The Baron sat there scrutinizing
ledgers, like a city merchant, and checking figures to make sure that
all was correct to the last peso. A choice occupation this for the
General of the King's Armies by Sea and Land. He looked up irritated by
the interruption which Captain Blood's advent occasioned.

"M. le Baron," the latter greeted him. "I must speak frankly; and you
must suffer it. My men are on the point of mutiny."

M. de Rivarol considered him with a faint lift of the eyebrows.

"Captain Blood, I, too, will speak frankly; and you, too, must suffer
it. If there is a mutiny, you and your captains shall be held personally
responsible. The mistake you make is in assuming with me the tone of an
ally, whereas I have given you clearly to understand from the first that
you are simply in the position of having accepted service under me.
Your proper apprehension of that fact will save the waste of a deal of
words."

Blood contained himself with difficulty. One of these fine days, he
felt, that for the sake of humanity he must slit the comb of this
supercilious, arrogant cockerel.

"You may define our positions as you please," said he. "But I'll remind
you that the nature of a thing is not changed by the name you give it.
I am concerned with facts; chiefly with the fact that we entered
into definite articles with you. Those articles provide for a certain
distribution of the spoil. My men demand it. They are not satisfied."

"Of what are they not satisfied?" demanded the Baron.

"Of your honesty, M. de Rivarol."

A blow in the face could scarcely have taken the Frenchman more aback.
He stiffened, and drew himself up, his eyes blazing, his face of a
deathly pallor. The clerks at the tables laid down their pens, and
awaited the explosion in a sort of terror.

For a long moment there was silence. Then the great gentleman delivered
himself in a voice of concentrated anger. "Do you really dare so much,
you and the dirty thieves that follow you? God's Blood! You shall answer
to me for that word, though it entail a yet worse dishonour to meet you.
Faugh!"

"I will remind you," said Blood, "that I am speaking not for myself,
but for my men. It is they who are not satisfied, they who threaten that
unless satisfaction is afforded them, and promptly, they will take it."

"Take it?" said Rivarol, trembling in his rage. "Let them attempt it,