"You have a large household, monsieur!" said the Captain, laughing incredulously.
"At present, yes, to my good fortune. A party of gentlemen, engaged in hunting the fox, arrived late last evening and remained the night. With us, sir, you must know, a fox chase may last a week, the horsemen putting up wherever night overtakes them."—("That keeps the women out, thank God!" he thought.)
The Captain played with his rapier hilt, and considered. What bothered him was the celerity with which the shutters had been closed—he had seen them swing shut almost simultaneously, as they approached. If this man spoke truthfully, then there was grave doubt of success—and, even if successful, a sorry depletion of his men, before he attained it. He had slipped into the Chesapeake to raid among the plantations close to the water, with the chance of picking up a fat merchantman or two, going to convoy off the Capes. This was the first attempt—brought about by information, from one of the men who knew something of the country, that Hedgely Hall was particularly good picking. He had not anticipated more than a momentary resistance—now, he was not so sure; it might take hours, and, in the meantime, his ship was lying in the river, with but two hands aboard. And a pirate without a ship is not long a pirate!
"Monsieur, it is this way," said he. "I must weigh anchor and away—we have spent overlong here, as it is. I will trust you——"
Marbury bowed in affected gratitude.
"If you will trust me," the Captain went on, and bowed back at him. "How much specie have you in the house?"
"Twelve hundred pounds," Marbury answered promptly.
"It is not enough—I must have two thousand."
"You ask what is physically impossible—I have no more."
"You have your ancestral silver, and the women's jewels."