“Yes.”
“He shall be set free. You see, I can be merciful, while you alone are stern and cold. How long am I to suffer this?”
“How long will you keep me here a prisoner?”
“How long will you keep yourself a prisoner, you should say. It is for you to be master here; for me to be your slave. How can I humble myself—degrade myself—more?”
Humphrey drew his breath in an angry, impatient hiss.
“For Heaven’s sake, rise!” he cried. “You lower yourself. You humble me. Come: let us talk sensibly. I do not want to be hard upon you. I will not say bitter things. Give me your hand.”
He took the hand nearest to him as he bent down, and raised the prostrate woman.
“Be seated,” he said, gravely. “Let me talk to you as I would to some one who can listen in an unprejudiced spirit.”
There was no reply.
“In your character of the captain of these buccaneers you asked me, an English officer, to be your friend and companion—to share with you this command. Is that all?”