e men, and caught them
assembled in Diccon's cabin, dicing for to-morrow's rum. When I had
struck out the light with my rapier, and had rated the rogues to
their several quarters, I went back through the gathering storm to the
brightly-lit, flower-decked room, and to Mistress Percy.

She was still kneeling, her hands at her breast, and her eyes, wide and
dark, fixed upon the blackness without the open door. I went up to her
and took her by the hand.

"I am a gentleman, madam," I said. "You need have no fear of me. I pray
you to rise."

She stood up at that, and her breath came hurriedly through her parted
lips, but she did not speak.

"It grows late, and you must be weary," I continued. "Your room is
yonder. I trust that you will sleep well. Good-night."

I bowed low, and she curtsied to me. "Good-night," she said.

On her way to the door, she brushed against the rack wherein hung my
weapons. Among them was a small dagger. Her quick eye caught its gleam,
and I saw her press closer to the wall, and with her right hand
strive stealthily to detach the blade from its fastening. She did not
understand the trick. Her hand dropped to her side, and she was passing
on, when I crossed the room, loosened the dagger, and offered it to her,
with a smile and a bow. She flushed scarlet and bit her lips, but she
took it.

"There are bars to the door within," I said. "Again, good-night."

"Good-night," she answered, and, entering the room, she shut the door. A
moment more, and I heard the heavy bars drop into place.

CHAPTER V IN WHICH A WOMAN HAS HER WAY

TEN days later, Rolfe, going down river in his barge, touched at my
wharf, and finding me there walked with me toward the house.

"I have not seen you since you laughed my advice to scorn--and took it,"
he said. "Where's the farthingale, Benedick the married man?"

"In the house."

"Oh, ay!" he commented. "It's near to supper time. I trust she's a good
cook?"

"She does not cook," I said dryly. "I have hired old Goody Cotton to do
that."

He eyed me closely. "By all the gods! a new doublet! She is skillful
with her needle, then?"

"She may be," I answered. "Having never seen her with one, I am no
judge. The doublet was made by the tailor at Flowerdieu Hundred."

By this we had reached the level sward at the top of the bank. "Roses!"
he exclaimed,--"a long row of them new planted! An arbor, too, and
a seat beneath the big walnut! Since when hast thou turned