“‘I have restored his title to him, Carteret. As for his estates, it is not likely that he would come back to claim them now, so I have given you, for him, what they are considered by my treasurer to be worth--ten thousand pounds. If, when you reach America, you find that he desires more----’
“‘Oh, ’tis enough, Your Majesty,’ I said quickly, lest he might change his mind.
“Then I bowed myself out, after thanking him most warmly in my name and your own.
“I lost little time in hastening to the treasury in the palace where the King’s order was honored. I soon transacted what business I had in London, set sail again, and, after a pleasant voyage, here I am. As for the money, it is safe in my strong box at home. I stopped there ere I went in search of you. Mistress Lucille told me where you had started for.
“Now, is not that good news?”
I was beyond speaking, though I tried to thank him. I could only hold out my hand.
“I’ll not grasp it until you promise to remember that it is a hand and not a sword hilt,” said the Captain, so earnestly, that I laughed ere I assured him that I would not grip him as hard as I did at first.
Joy lent me such speed as we walked to the house, where I knew I would find Lucille, that Carteret called on me several times to halt, and to walk more slowly.
“When you get as old as I am,” he said, “you will be glad to travel less speedily.”
“Not with such good news as I carry,” was my answer.