“Of its general purport, yes,” answered Le Gallais.  “The emissaries of Queen Henrietta are due from S. Malo this day.  They will not go to you (unless they are forced) nor yet to Mr. Secretary Nicholas.  They are the bringers of a secret communication from the queen mother to her son.  You see, sir, that I may be trusted.”

“By the faith of a gentleman, it is too strong,” cried the governor, in an impassioned voice.  “Was ever honour or gratitude known among that family?  But I care not.  Your friends, M. Le Gallais, are my enemies.  If Whitelock and company send to this island all the rebels outside the gates of hell I will fight them.  You may depart and take them that message from me.”

Le Gallais did not move.  “But in case of a French force landing—?”

“In that case, sir,” answered the governor, and his voice rose to a quarter-deck shout.  “In that case it would be ’up with the red cross ensign and England for ever!’”

Le Gallais rose and in a gentler tone echoed the cry, sharing the generous impulse.

“Now go,” said the governor, more gently, “go to the buttery and get thyself refreshed.  I know what a sailor’s appetite can be.  No words; you came from England last night.  God bless England and all her friends!”

So saying the governor departed, and in a few minutes more was seen to mount his horse at the fort gate and gallop towards S. Helier, followed by a single orderly.

Immediately on arriving at the town, Sir George’s first care was to send his follower to the Denonciateur and order him to summon an extraordinary meeting of the States.  After which be went on to the Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King.

Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails.  A tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the governor entered.

“How now?” asked the King, with some show of energy; “To what are we indebted for the honour of this sudden visit?  Were you not told, Sir George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?”

“Faith I was, Sir,” answered Carteret, with a seaman’s bluntness.  “But, under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one that ought to be debated in my absence.”

Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and ennui.  But the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than in the present instance.

“If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty’s service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands.  But your Majesty knows that there is not.  I am here to claim that the message from the Queen be laid before the States.  We are your Majesty’s to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is required.”