red thus long; perhaps with a wise purpose,"
rejoined Thames. "But, though the storm has spared him, _I_ will not."

"'_No doubt_,'" said Wood, who had again turned over the leaves of the
sacred volume--', "_no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he
escaped the seas, yet vengeance suffereth not to live_'."

"No feelings of consanguinity shall stay my vengeance," said Thames,
sternly. "I will have no satisfaction but his life."

"'_Thou shalt take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer which is
guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death_'," said Wood
referring to another text.

"Do not steel your heart against him, dear Thames," interposed
Winifred.

"'_And thine eye shall not pity_,'" said her father, in a tone of
rebuke, "'_but, life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,
hand for hand, foot for foot_.'"

As these words were delivered by the carpenter with stern emphasis, a
female servant entered the room, and stated that a gentleman was at the
door, who wished to speak with Captain Darell on business of urgent
importance.

"With me?" said Thames. "Who is it?"

"He didn't give his name, Sir," replied the maid; "but he's a young
gentleman."

"Don't go near him, dear Thames," said Winifred; "he may have some ill
intention."

"Pshaw!" cried Thames. "What! refuse to see a person who desires to
speak with me. Say I will come to him."

"Law! Miss," observed the maid, "there's nothing mischievous in the
person's appearance, I'm sure. He's as nice and civil-spoken a gentleman
as need be; by the same token," she added, in an under tone, "that he
gave me a span new crown piece."

"'_The thief cometh in the night, and the troop of robbers spoileth
without_,'" said Wood, who had a text for every emergency.

"Lor' ha' mussy, Sir!--how you _do_ talk," said the woman; "this is no
robber, I'm sure. I should have known at a glance if it was. He's more
like a lord than--"

As she spoke, steps were heard approaching; the door was thrown open,
and a young man marched boldly into the room.

The intruder was handsomely, even richly, attired in a scarlet
riding-suit, embroidered with gold; a broad belt, to which a hanger was
attached, crossed his shoulders; his boots rose above his knee, and he
carried a laced hat in his hand. Advancing to the middle of the chamber,
he halted, drew himself up, and fixed his dark, expressive eyes, on
Thames Darrell. His appearance excited the greatest astonis