“There is little need,” said Sir George, “of telling that which you know better than I do. How you were of the personal guard of Monmouth, and how, when the last battle went against him you fell into the hands of King James’ men, that day on Sedgemoor field. Of your trial before his Worshipful Honor, Judge Jeffreys, and his merciful sentence that you be sold as a slave, instead of being hanged, as you, and all that army of ragamuffins deserved, I need not speak. You recall how Lord Cordwaine begged that you might be given to him so he could sell you into slavery. You managed to escape from prison, none knew how, before Lord Cordwaine had secured you, and you fled.
“The noble lord reported his loss to His Majesty, and, being in great favor then, the King granted a royal warrant for you, that, wherever you could be found, you might be brought back to England as a traitor, to be dealt with as Lord Cordwaine might elect. That was seven years ago.
“Of your wanderings in that time I have heard a little. How, having sold your sword to prince after prince in Europe, you finally came to America, and offered your services to His Excellency, Sir William Phips, under the name of Captain Amherst. I have had a long search for you.
“Do not think that I followed you over seas all these years merely to gratify the revenge, or satisfy the whim of Lord Cordwaine. He might rot in hell for all I cared,” and Sir George, with a vicious snarl to the words, doubled his riding whip until it snapped in twain.
“No,” he proceeded, “I sought you for myself; for my own ends.”
I looked at him, trying to fathom whither he might be drifting. He had no more of the careless air, and his tone had changed to a low, intense and rapid one.
“Can you call to mind,” he asked, “when the last charge was made at the ditch that proved so disastrous to Monmouth’s forces?”
“Yes,” I said, my memory going back to the fierce struggle between farmers and religious fanatics on one side, and trained soldiers on the other.
“Do you remember how, when a dark haired lad, aye he was but a boy, opposed you as you urged your horse on?”
“Yes,” I answered, as one awaking from a sleep.