Read Online Free Book

The Buccaneer - A Tale

Page 260

"Even so," replied the Jew, with a bitter sigh; "she was named after her

mother."

"You, doubtless, saw her, and, struck by her beauty, which we hear was

most marvellous, paid her more courtesy than was quite fitting in a

betrothed man. But Satan lays many snares for the unwary, and beauty is

a peril that few men altogether escape. Verily, it is of the evil one.

But there are excuses; at least there may be excuses, especially in such

a land as France, where temptation assumes every seducing form; and a

young woman, like this lady, might have been easily led to believe your

courtliness to be that of the heart, whereas it was only that of the

manner."

The rabbi stood aghast, his friend Cromwell talked in a tone so much

more moderate than he had expected--he knew not what to think. Even

Burrell, who had anticipated a thunder-storm, was deceived by the calm;

and, after considering a moment that the Protector would not speak thus

if he had really received any communication from Hugh Dalton, replied,

breathing freely for the first time since he received the mandate to

appear at Hampton Court,-"It is possible she might have been led to such belief, though, as I

have before assured her father, I had no intention so to mislead his

daughter. It is very hard to be suspected of a crime so base; and----"

"But innocence wears a robe of such pure light," interrupted the

Protector, "that it will shine in the darkest night, as yours will, if

you are innocent. Know you how the fair Jewess became possessed of this

picture? Nay, I should hesitate to think harshly of you, even if you had

given it to her, which you might have done in pure friendliness,

although the world--it is a harsh and ill-judging world--might condemn

you on such ground. But we have ourselves suffered so much from its

wrong judgment, as to have learned mercy towards others. Friendship,

excellent, right, true friendship, may exist between man and woman in

our advanced--ay, and in our young years. Why should it not? Or, as the

picture is of excellent painting, and the young lady, it would seem,

desired accomplishment in that useless art, you might have lent it her

as a study--or----"

"I certainly did not give it," replied Burrell; "but I have some idea of

having lent it, with sundry Flemish drawings. Your Highness may remember

that several gentlemen, attached to the embassy at Paris, came away

hastily. I was one of those."

PrevPage ListNext