Still nursing his hand, the overseer, his face sullen, fell aside before that threat, and Captain Blood moved on at an easy pace down the golden lane with Tom Hagthorpe striding beside him clinging to his stirrup–leather. Out of earshot the young man hoarsely asked a question.
'Peter, by what miracle do you happen here?'
'Miracle, is it? Now didn't ye suppose that sooner or later one or another of us would be coming to look for you?' He laughed. 'I've not only had the luck to find you. That sweet, womanly creature has supplied a pretext for my interest in you. It makes things easy. And, anyway, easy or difficult, by my soul, I'm not leaving Nevis without you.'
VI
In the hall of the Deputy–Governor's house, when they came to it, Captain Blood left the lad to wait for him, whilst, guided by my lady's strident scolding voice, he strode to the dining–room. There he found Sir James seated, cold and sneering, before a neglected breakfast and her ladyship pacing the room as she railed. The opening of the door momentarily checked her. Then with heaving breast and eyes that flamed in a white face she exploded at the intruder.
'You have the effrontery to present yourself?'
'I thought that I might be expected.'
'Expected? Ha!'
He bowed a little. 'I'm far from wishing to intrude. But I supposed that some explanation might be desired of me.'
'Some explanation indeed!'