Blood’s face became grave.  “I’m sorry for that,” said he.

I thought you would be, answered his lordship.

“Oh, but not on my own account.  It’s the Deputy-Governor there I’m sorry for.  D’ye know what Ye’ve done?  Sure, now, ye’ve very likely hanged him.”

“My God!” cried Bishop in a sudden increase of panic.

“If they so much as put a shot across my bows, up goes their Deputy-Governor to the yardarm.  Your only hope, Colonel, lies in the fact that I shall send them word of that intention.  And so that you may mend as far as you can the harm you have done, it’s yourself shall bear them the message, my lord.”

“I’ll see you damned before I do,” fumed his lordship.

“Why, that’s unreasonable and unreasoning.  But if ye insist, why, another messenger will do as well, and another hostage aboard — as I had originally intended — will make my hand the stronger.”

Lord Julian stared at him, realizing exactly what he had refused.

“You’ll think better of it now that ye understand?” quoth Blood.

“Aye, in God’s name, go, my lord,” spluttered Bishop, “and make yourself obeyed.  This damned pirate has me by the throat.”

His lordship surveyed him with an eye that was not by any means admiring.  “Why, if that is your wish...” he began.  Then he shrugged, and turned again to Blood.

“I suppose I can trust you that no harm will come to Colonel Bishop if you are allowed to sail?”

“You have my word for it,” said Blood.  “And also that I shall put him safely ashore again without delay.”

Lord Julian bowed stiffly to the cowering Deputy-Governor.  “You understand, sir, that I do as you desire,” he said coldly.

“Aye, man, aye!” Bishop assented hastily.

“Very well.”  Lord Julian bowed again and took his departure.  Blood escorted him to the entrance ladder at the foot of which still swung the Arabella’s own cock-boat.

“It’s good-bye, my lord,” said Blood.  “And there’s another thing.”  He proffered a parchment that he had drawn from his pocket.  “It’s the commission.  Bishop was right when he said it was a mistake.”

Lord Julian considered him, and considering him his expression softened.

“I am sorry,” he said sincerely.

“In other circumstances...” began Blood.  “Oh, but there!  Ye’ll understand.  The boat’s waiting.”

Yet with his foot on the first rung of the ladder, Lord Julian hesitated.

“I still do not perceive — blister me if I do! — why you should not have found some one else to carry your message to the Commandant, and kept me aboard as an added hostage for his obedience to your wishes.”

Blood’s vivid eyes looked into the other’s that were clear and honest, and he smiled, a little wistfully.  A moment he seemed to hesitate.  Then he explained himself quite fully.