“Gloria, gloria! gentles all! The devil is broke loose at last; and now we know where to have him on the hip!”
“Why so merry, Captain Leigh, when all else are sad?” said a gentle voice by his side.
“Because I have been sad a long time, while all else were merry, dear lady. Is the hawk doleful when his hood is pulled off, and he sees the heron flapping right ahead of him?”
“You seem to forget the danger and the woe of us weak women, sir?”
“I don't forget the danger and the woe of one weak woman, madam, and she the daughter of a man who once stood in this room,” said Amyas, suddenly collecting himself, in a low stern voice. “And I don't forget the danger and the woe of one who was worth a thousand even of her. I don't forget anything, madam.”
“Nor forgive either, it seems.”
“It will be time to talk of forgiveness after the offender has repented and amended; and does the sailing of the Armada look like that?”
“Alas, no! God help us!”
“He will help us, madam,” said Amyas.
“Admiral Leigh,” said Sir Richard, “we need you now, if ever. Here are the queen's orders to furnish as many ships as we can; though from these gentlemen's spirit, I should say the orders were well-nigh needless.”