"You were indifferent to what I said?" she cried.
I rose to my feet and made her a bow of mock ceremony. My rest had put me in heart again, and I was in a mood to be merry.
"Nay, madame," said I, "you know that I am your devoted servant, and that all I have in the world is held at your disposal."
She looked sideways at me, then at the sea again.
"By heaven, it's true!" I cried. "All I have is yours. See!" I took out my precious guinea, and bending on my knee with uncovered head presented it to Mistress Barbara.
She turned her eyes down to it and sat regarding it for a moment.
"It's all I have, but it's yours," said I most humbly.
"Mine?"
"Most heartily."
She lifted it from my palm with finger and thumb very daintily, and, before I knew what she was doing, or could have moved to hinder her if I had the mind, she raised her arm over her head and with all her strength flung the guinea into the sparkling waves.