"Yes, I'm grown old, and, though my little Fire-fly is still bright and

beautiful, and her ivories as biting, her guns, sir, as musical as ever,

yet I'm done with the Colonies; they ruin a man's morals and his health;

but I do a little, just by way of amusement, or practice, with Flanders

and France, and a run now and then to Lisbon."

"How long is it since you've been to St. Vallery?"

"Some time now; I was at Dieppe last month, and that is very near."

"Dalton, you must make St. Vallery before this moon is out, and execute

a little commission for me."

"Very good, sir; we have never disputed about terms. What is it? any

thing in the way of silks, or----"

"It is flesh, human flesh, Dalton."

"Ah!" exclaimed the Buccaneer, rising and recoiling from the knight.

"I've had enough of that, and I'll have no more. Sir Willmott Burrell,

you must seek out another man."

"Now, Dalton," said Burrell, in his most insinuating tone, "you have not

yet heard me, and I take it very unhandsome of an old friend like you to

start off in such a manner without knowing why or wherefore. The matter

is simply this--a girl, a silly girl, somehow or other got attached to

me while I was in France. I have received letter upon letter, talking of

her situation, and so forth, and threatening various things; amongst

others, to come over here, unless--the idiot!--I acknowledge her as my

wife. Now, you know, or perhaps you do not know, that I am betrothed to

the daughter of Sir Robert Cecil; and, if I must enter into the holy

state, why she is a maiden to be proud of. I have arranged it

thus--written to my fair Zillah to get to St. Vallery by a particular

day, the date of which I will give you, and told her that a vessel waits

to convey her to England. You, Dalton, must guide that vessel,

and----but you understand me; words between friends are needless."

"The cargo for exportation; Barbadoes perhaps----"

"Or----" And Burrell pointed with his finger downwards, though, when he

raised his eye to encounter that of the Buccaneer, it was quickly

withdrawn.

"God, Burrell!" exclaimed Dalton, in a tone of abhorrence, "you are a

greater villain than I took you for! Why can't you pay off the

girl--send her somewhere--gild the crime?"

"Gold is no object with her; she desires honour."




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