"What is the amount of the taxes?" he asked.
"It rests with you, monsieur—how much can you pay for his Majesty's favor?"
"How am I to know that it will buy his favor?" said Marbury.
"You will have to take my word for it, monsieur."
Marbury smiled. "The word of a pirate?"
"Is doubtful security, you mean? I grant it, monsieur, but it is the best I can give you—you may take it or not, as you see fit. However, let me point out, that, by taking it, you stand to lose certain possessions but save your lives and the house; by not taking it, you will lose your lives and property as well. Voilà!"
"Not exactly," said Marbury. "I may be willing to pay a reasonable amount to avoid a nasty fight, but, that is all. If we fight, we are reasonably sure of saving our lives and the cash, and of sending a goodly number of your pirate crew to hell—yourself among them."
"There may be some casualties," was the answer, "but they will not be confined to one side, monsieur."
"Possibly not, sir, but we fight under cover of the house, you in the open. You have doubtless observed that there are holes in the shutters—air holes, they are, but quite as serviceable for guns. But, what you do not know is, that behind every window, both front and rear, stands a man, with rifles and ammunition—and a slave to serve him—you can judge, better than I, what will be the result to an attacking party."