" said Hansford, unmoved by the irony of the old knight.

"Oh pardon me, fair sir," said Berkeley; "yet, in this I _must_ crave
your pardon, indeed. A sovereign would never wittingly trust himself
alone with a rebel, and neither will I, though only an obscure colonial
Governor. There are none but loyal ears here, and I trust Mr. Hansford
has no tidings which can offend them."

"I am sure," said Hansford, in reply, "that Sir William Berkeley does
not for a moment suspect that I desired to see him in private from any
sinister or treasonable motive."

"I know, sir," said Berkeley, angrily, "that you have proved yourself a
traitor, and, therefore, I have the best reason for suspecting you of
treasonable designs. But I have no time--no disposition to dally with
you thus. Tell me, what new treason, that my old ears are yet strangers
to, I am yet doomed to hear?"

"My instructions are soon told," said Hansford, repressing his
indignation. "General Nathaniel Bacon, by virtue of your own commission,
Commander-in-chief of the forces of Virginia, desires to know, and has
directed me to inquire, for what cause you have issued a proclamation
declaring both him and his followers traitors to their country and
king?"

Berkeley stood the shock much better than Hansford expected. His face
flushed for a moment, but only for a moment, as he replied,--

"This is certainly an unusual demand of a rebel; but sir, as I have
nothing to fear from an exposure of my reasons, I will reply, that
Nathaniel Bacon is now in arms against the government of Virginia."

"Not unless the government of Virginia be allied with the Indians,
against whom he is marching," said Hansford, calmly.

"Aye, but it is well known," returned Berkeley, "that he has covert
views of his own to attain, under pretext of this expedition against the
Indians."

"Why, then," replied Hansford, "if they are covert from his own
followers, proclaim them traitors with himself; or, if covert from the
government, how can you ascertain that they are treasonable? But, above
all, if you suspected such traitorous designs, why, by your commission,
elevate him to a position in which he may be able to execute them with
success?"

"'Fore God, gentlemen, this is the most barefaced insolence that I have
ever heard. For yourself, young man, out of your own mouth will I judge
you, and convict you of treason; and for your preceptor--whose lessons,
I doubt not, you repeat by rote--you may t