emple, "in behalf of this unhappy man. I surely have some claim upon
your benevolence, and I ask his life as a personal boon to me."

"Oh, assuredly, since you rely upon your hospitable protection to us,
you should have your fee," said Berkeley, with a sneer. "But not in so
precious a coin as a rebel's life. If you have suffered by the
protection afforded to the deputy of your king, you shall not lack
remuneration. But the coin shall be the head of Carolus II.;[42] this
rebel's head I claim as my own."

"Now, by heaven!" returned Temple, thoroughly aroused, "it requires all
my loyalty to stomach so foul an insult. My royal master's exchequer
could illy remunerate me for the gross language heaped upon me by his
deputy. But let this pass. You are my guest, sir; and that I cannot
separate the Governor from the man, I am prevented from resenting an
insult, which else I could but little brook."

"As you please, mine host," replied Berkeley. "But, in truth, I have
wronged you, Temple. But think, my friend, of the pang the shepherd must
feel, when he finds that he has let a wolf into his fold, which he is
unable to resist. Oh, think of this, and bear with me!"

Temple knew the old Governor too well to doubt the sincerity of this
retraxit, and with a cordial grasp of the hand, he assured Berkeley of
his forgiveness. "And yet," he added, warmly, "I cannot forget the cause
I advocate, for this first rebuff. Believe me, Sir William, you will
gain nothing, but lose much, by proceeding harshly against this unhappy
young man. In the absence of any evidence of his guilt, you will arouse
the indignation of the colonists to such a height, that it will be
difficult to pacify them."

"Pardon me, Sir William Berkeley," said Bernard, who had joined the
party, "but would it not be well to examine this knave, Berkenhead,
touching the movements and intentions of the insurgents, and
particularly concerning any expressions which may have fallen from this
young gentleman? If it shall appear that he is guiltless of the crime
imputed to him, then you may safely yield to the solicitations of these
gentlemen, and liberate him. But if it shall appear that he is guilty,
they, in their turn, cannot object to his meeting the penalty which his
treason richly deserves."

"Now, by heaven, the young man speaks truthfully and wisely," said
Temple, assured, by the former interview with Berkenhead, that he knew
of nothing which could convict the prisoner.