"I, most assuredly, am not paying from choice."
"Neither am I a pirate from choice, monsieur. But, being one, I believe in being a good one."
"Which means, that you are a particularly bad one."
Long-Sword laughed. "You have no evidence of it, monsieur. Surely, I was not rapacious in my terms to you!—There are four sovereigns too many——"
"I know," said Marbury. "I gave you all the gold I had."
The pirate gravely returned them.
"It was to be twelve hundred, no more. This is the silver?" pointing to the bundle in white. "Very good—my men shall be immediately withdrawn. Monsieur, I have the honor to salute you, and to bid you farewell," and he bared his head and bowed low.
Then he put his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly. Instantly, those of his crew in the rear of the house, marched down and joined the main body. A motion brought his two lieutenants forward—he gave one the gold, the other the silver, and they started toward their ship. He, himself, paused a moment to pluck a rose and admire it, before fastening it in his coat; then he turned, and, again gravely saluting Marbury, who had retired to the doorway, followed after his men.
"May the devil take you!" Marbury muttered.
"And may he take him soon!" said Constable from his window. "Shall we call off the defenders?"