They came and the matter was laid before them by M. de Cussy himself.  Hagthorpe announced at once that the proposal was opportune.  The men were grumbling at their protracted inaction, and would no doubt be ready to accept the service which M. de Cussy offered on behalf of France.  Hagthorpe looked at Blood as he spoke.  Blood nodded gloomy agreement.  Emboldened by this, they went on to discuss the terms.  Yberville, the young French filibuster, had the honour to point out to M. de Cussy that the share offered was too small.  For one fifth of the prizes, the officers would answer for their men; not for less.

M. de Cussy was distressed.  He had his instructions.  It was taking a deal upon himself to exceed them.  The buccaneers were firm.  Unless M. de Cussy could make it one fifth there was no more to be said.  M. de Cussy finally consenting to exceed his instructions, the articles were drawn up and signed that very day.  The buccaneers were to be at Petit Goave by the end of January, when M. de Rivarol had announced that he might be expected.

After that followed days of activity in Tortuga, refitting the ships, boucanning meat, laying in stores.  In these matters which once would have engaged all Captain Blood’s attention, he now took no part.  He continued listless and aloof.  If he had given his consent to the undertaking, or, rather, allowed himself to be swept into it by the wishes of his officers — it was only because the service offered was of a regular and honourable kind, nowise connected with piracy, with which he swore in his heart that he had done for ever.  But his consent remained passive.  The service entered awoke no zeal in him.  He was perfectly indifferent — as he told Hagthorpe, who ventured once to offer a remonstrance — whether they went to Petit Goave or to Hades, and whether they entered the service of Louis XIV or of Satan.

CHAPTER XXVI

M. de Rivarol

Captain Blood was still in that disgruntled mood when he sailed from Tortuga, and still in that mood when he came to his moorings in the bay of Petit Goave.  In that same mood he greeted M. le Baron de Rivarol when this nobleman with his fleet of five men-of-war at last dropped anchor alongside the buccaneer ships, in the middle of February.  The Frenchman had been six weeks on the voyage, he announced, delayed by unfavourable weather.

Summoned to wait on him, Captain Blood repaired to the Castle of Petit Goave, where the interview was to take place.  The Baron, a tall, hawk-faced man of forty, very cold and distant of manner, measured Captain Blood with an eye of obvious disapproval.  Of Hagthorpe, Yberville, and Wolverstone who stood ranged behind their captain, he took no heed whatever.  M. de Cussy offered Captain Blood a chair.

“A moment, M. de Cussy.  I do not think M. le Baron has observed that I am not alone.  Let me present to you, sir, my companions:  Captain Hagthorpe of the Elizabeth, Captain Wolverstone of the Atropos, and Captain Yberville of the Lachesis.”