nce. "If I do as you bid, I
may not go unrecognized. I say not, 'Spare me this, John Nevil!' I only
ask, 'Is it wise?'... Sir Francis Drake is commander here. Four years
ago he swore that you were too merciful, that in your place he would
have played hangsman to me more blithely than he played headsman to
Thomas Doughty."

"I sail not under Francis Drake," Nevil answered. "Meeting me with two
goodly ships at the Terceiras, he was fain enough to have me join my
force to his. Over my own I hold command, and I shall claim you as my
own. But you have no fear of Francis Drake! Is it your thought that your
shield is forever reversed, and that you are only welcome, only
unashamed, yonder where sickness stretches forth its hands, and Death
gives back before you? If it is so, yet be that which you are!--No
Spanish friar, but English knight and gentleman. If it be known to high
and low that once you fell, then face that knowledge with humility of
heart, with simplicity, but with the outward ease and bearing of that
estate in which God placed you. This garb becomes you not, who are yet
a soldier of England. Away with it!--then in singleness of mind press
onward along thy rocky road until God calls thee at last to His green
meadows, to His high city. Ah, my friend! I give but poor and meagre
words to that I read within thy eyes. There is no need for me to speak
at all when thy lit soul looks out upon me!"

The dawn began to show faint splendors, and the winds of morning drove
aslant the candle flames. Ferne shook his head and his countenance
darkened somewhat with vain regrets and sharp memories of old agonies.
"Not that, my friend! I am changed, but God knows--not I--what other
change would come did He lift His rod. Once I thought I knew all right
from all wrong, all darkness from all light--yea, and I strove to
practise that knowledge.... I think now that to every man may come an
hour when pride and assurance go down--when for evermore he hath that
wisdom that he no longer knows himself." He smiled. "But I will do what
you ask, John. It were strange, were it not, if I refused you this?" As
he passed Nevil, the two touched hands again. Another moment and the
door of the inner room closed upon him. Sir John, awaiting his return,
began to quench the candles one by one, for there was no need of other
light than the flooding dawn.

Some minutes had passed, when a knock at the outward door interrupted
his employment. Crossing the fl