'That is to be subtle, is it not? I must take thought upon this, Don Ruiz. We will talk of it again.'
Don Ruiz bowed low, his lip in his teeth. 'At your Eminence's disposal,' he said. 'Meanwhile, my barge is waiting to carry your Eminence ashore.'
The Cardinal rose, imposingly tall in his robes, and drew his scarlet cloak about him. The cowled Dominicans, who had stood like statues, stirred responsively into life. His Eminence turned to them.
'Be mindful, my children, to return thanks for this safe deliverance. Let us go.'
And he stepped forward, to be checked at once by Captain Blood. 'Patience yet awhile, Eminence. All is not done.'
The Cardinal threw up his head, a frown darkening his brow. 'How? What, then, remains?'
Blood's answer was delivered rather to the scowling Captain–General than to the prelate. 'So far we have had no more than restitution. Come we now to the question of compensations.'
'Compensations!' cried the Primate, and for once the splendid calm of him was ruffled. Sternly he added the questions:
'What is this? Do you break faith sir?'
'That, at least, has never yet been said of me. I break no faith. On the contrary, I am punctilious. What I told the Alcalde was that when restitution was made we would discuss the matter of your Eminence's landing. That we would discuss it. No more than that.'