note　the　richness　of　his　doublet　and　cloak；　…　the　one　slashed；　the　other　lined　with　scarlet　taffeta；　…　the　arrogance　of　his　mien　and　gait；　and　the　superb　full…blooded　beauty　of　his　face。
  〃The　handsomest　man　that　ever　I　saw！　〃　ejaculated　the　Governor。
  Master　Pory；　standing　beside　him；　drew　in　his　breath；　then　puffed　it　out　again。　〃Handsome　enough；　your　Honor；〃　he　said；　〃unless　handsome　is　as　handsome　does。　That；　gentlemen；　is　my　Lord　Carnal；　…　that　is　the　King's　latest　favorite。〃
  CHAPTER　VIII　　IN　WHICH　ENTERS　MY　LORD　CARNAL
  I　FELT　a　touch　upon　my　shoulder；　and　turned　to　find　Mistress　Percy　beside　me。　Her　cheeks　were　white；　her　eyes　aflame；　her　whole　frame　tense。　The　passion　that　dominated　her　was　so　clearly　anger　at　white　heat　that　I　stared　at　her　in　amazement。　Her　hand　slid　from　my　shoulder　to　the　bend　of　my　arm　and　rested　there。　〃Remember　that　I　am　your　wife；　sir；〃　she　said　in　a　low；　fierce　voice；　…　〃your　kind　and　loving　wife。　You　said　that　your　sword　was　mine；　now　bring　your　wit　to　the　same　service！〃
  There　was　not　time　to　question　her　meaning。　The　man　whose　position　in　the　realm　had　just　been　announced　by　the　Secretary；　and　of　whom　we　had　all　heard　as　one　not　unlikely　to　supplant　even　Buckingham　himself；　was　close　at　hand。　The　Governor；　headpiece　in　hand；　stepped　forward；　the　other　swept　off　his　Spanish　hat；　both　bowed　profoundly。
  〃I　speak　to　his　Honor　the　Governor　of　Virginia？〃　inquired　the　newcomer。　His　tone　was　offhand；　his　hat　already　back　upon　his　head。
  〃I　am　George　Yeardley；　at　my　Lord　Carnal's　service；〃　answered　the　Governor。
  The　favorite　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃I　don't　need　to　introduce　myself；　it　seems；〃　he　said。　〃You've　found　that　I　am　not　the　devil；　after　all；　…　at　least　not　the　Spanish　Apollyon。　Zooks　！　a　hawk　above　　a　poultry　yard　could　n't　have　caused　a　greater　commotion　than　did　my　poor　little　ship　and　my　few　poor　birding　pieces！　Does　every　strange　sail　so　put　you　through　your　paces？〃
  The　Governor's　color　mounted。　〃We　are　not　at　home；〃　he　answered　stiffly。　〃Here　we　are　few　and　weak　and　surrounded　by　many　dangers；　and　have　need　to　be　vigilant；　being　planted；　as　it　were；　in　the　very　grasp　of　that　Spain　who　holds　Europe　in　awe；　and　who　claims　this　land　as　her　own。　That　we　are　here　at　all　is　proof　enough　of　our　courage；　my　lord。〃
  The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I　don't　doubt　your　mettle；〃　he　said　negligently。　〃I　dare　say　it　matches　your　armor。〃
  His　glance　had　rested　for　a　moment　upon　the　battered　headpiece　and　ancient　rusty　breastplate　with　which　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow　was　bedight。
  〃It　is　something　antique；　truly；　something　out　of　fashion；〃　remarked　that　worthy；　…　〃almost　as　out　of　fashion　as　courtesy　from　guests；　or　respect　for　dignities　from　my…face…is…my…fortune　minions　and　lords　on　carpet　considerations。〃
  The　hush　of　consternation　following　this　audacious　speech　was　broken　by　a　roar　of　laughter　from　the　favorite　himself。　〃Zounds！〃　he　cried；　〃your　courage　is　worn　on　your　sleeve；　good　giant！　I'll　uphold　you　to　face　Spaniards；　strappado；　rack；　galleys；　and　all！〃
  The　bravado　with　which　he　spoke；　the　insolence　of　his　bold　glance　and　curled　lip；　the　arrogance　with　which　he　flaunted　that　King's　favor　which　should　be　a　brand　more　infamous　than　the　hangman's；　his　beauty；　the　pomp　of　his　dress；　…　all　were　alike　hateful。　I　hated　him　then；　scarce　knowing　why；　as　I　hated　him　afterward　with　reason。
  He　now　pulled　from　the　breast　of　his　doublet　a　packet；　which　he　proffered　the　Governor。　〃From　the　King；　sir；〃　he　announced；　in　the　half…fierce；　half…　mocking　tone　he　had　made　his　own。　〃You　may　read　it　at　your　leisure。　He　wishes　you　to　further　me　in　a　quest　upon　which　I　have　come。〃
  The　Governor　took　the　packet　with　reverence。　〃His　Majesty's　will　is　our　law；〃　he　said。　〃Anything　that　lies　in　our　power；　sir；　though　if　you　come　for　gold〃　…
  The　favorite　laughed　again。　〃I've　come　for　a　thing　a　deal　more　precious；　Sir　Governor；　…　a　thing　worth　more　to　me　than　all　the　treasure　of　the　Indies　with　Manoa　and　El　Dorado　thrown　in；　…　to　wit；　the　thing　upon　which　I've　set　my　mind。　That　which　I　determine　to　do；　I　do；　sir；　and　the　thing　I　determine　to　have；　why；　sooner　or　later；　by　hook　or　by　crook；　fair　means　or　foul；　I　have　it！　I　am　not　one　to　be　crossed　or　defied　with　impunity。〃
  〃I　do　not　take　your　meaning；　my　lord；〃　said　the　Governor；　puzzled；　but　courteous。　〃There　are　none　here　who　would　care　to　thwart；　in　any　honorable　enterprise；　a　nobleman　so　high　in　the　King's　favor。　I　trust　that　my　Lord　Carnal　will　make　my　poor　house　his　own　during　his　stay　in　Virginia　…　What's　the　matter；　my　lord？〃
  My　lord's　face　was　dark　red；　his　black　eyes　afire；　his　mustaches　working　up　and　down。　His　white　teeth　had　closed　with　a　click　on　the　loud　oath　which　had　interrupted　the　Governor's　speech。　Honest　Sir　George　and　his　circle　stared　at　this　unaccountable　guest　in　amazement　not　unmixed　with　dismay。　As　for　myself；　I　knew　before　he　spoke　what　had　caused　the　oath　and　the　fierce　triumph　in　that　handsome　　face。　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow　had　moved　a　little　to　one　side；　thus　exposing　to　view　that　which　his　great　body　had　before　screened　from　observation；　…　namely；　Mistress　Jocelyn　Percy。
  In　a　moment　the　favorite　was　before　her；　hat　in　hand；　bowing　to　the　ground。
  〃My　quest　hath　ended　where　I　feared　it　but　begun！〃　he　cried；　flushed　and　exultant。　〃I　have　found　my　Manoa　sooner　than　I　thought　for。　Have　you　no　welcome　for　me；　lady？〃
  She　withdrew　her　arm　from　mine　and　curtsied　to　him　profoundly；　then　stood　erect；　indignant　and　defiant；　her　eyes　angry　stars；　her　cheeks　carnation；　scorn　on　her　smiling　lips。
  〃I　cannot　welcome　you　as　you　should　be　welcomed；　my　lord；〃　she　said　in　a　clear　voice。　〃I　have　but　my　bare　hands。　Manoa；　my　lord；　lies　far　to　the　southward。　This　land　is　quite　out　of　your　course；　and　you　will　find　here　but　your　travail　for　your　pains。　My　lord；　permit　me　to　present　to　you　my　husband；　Captain　Ralph　Percy。　I　think　that　you　know　his　cousin；　my　Lord　of　Northumberland。〃
  The　red　left　the　favorite's　cheeks；　and　he　moved　as　though　a　blow　had　been　dealt　him　by　some　invisible　hand。　Recovering　himself　he　bowed　to　me；　and　I　to　him；　which　done　we　looked　each　other　in　the　eyes　long　enough　for　each　to　see　the　thrown　gauntlet。
  〃I　raise　it；〃　I　said。
  〃And　I　raise　it；〃　he　answered。
  〃A　l'outrance；　I　think；　sir？〃　I　continued。
  〃A　l'outrance；〃　he　assented。
  〃And　between　us　two　alone；〃　I　suggested。
  His　answering　smile　was　not　good　to　see；　nor　was　the　tone　in　which　he　spoke　to　the　Governor　good　to　hear。
  〃It　is　now　some　weeks；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃since　there　disappeared　from　court　a　jewel；　a　diamond　of　most　inestimable　worth。　It　in　some　sort　belonged　to　the　King；　and　his　Majesty；　in　the　goodness　of　his　heart；　had　promised　it　to　a　certain　one；　…　nay；　had　sworn　by　his　kingdom　that　it　should　be　his。　Well；　sir；　that　man　put　forth　his　hand　to　claim　his　own　…　when　lo！　the　jewel　vanished！　Where　it　went　no　man　could　tell。　There　was；　as　you　may　believe；　a　mighty　running　up　and　down　and　looking　into　dark　corners；　all　for　naught；　…　it　was　clean　gone。　But　the　man　to　whom　that　bright　gem　had　been　promised　was　not　one　easily　hoodwinked　or　baffled。　He　swore　to　trace　it；　follow　it；　find　it；　and　wear　it。〃
  His　bold　eyes　left　the　Governor；　to　rest　upon　the　woman　beside　me；　had　he　pointed　to　her　with　his　hand；　he　could　not　have　more　surely　drawn　upon　her　the　regard　of　that　motley　throng。　By　degrees　the　crowd　had　fallen　back；　leaving　us　three　…　the　King's　minion；　the　masquerading　lady；　and　myself　…　the　centre　of　a　ring　of　staring　faces；　but　now　she　became　the　sole　target　at　which　all　eyes　were　directed。
  In　Virginia；　at　this　time；　the　women　of　our　own　race　were　held　in　high　esteem。　During　the　first　years　of　our　planting　they　were　a　greater　rarity　than　the　mocking…birds　and　flying　squirrels；　or　than　that　weed　the　eating　of　which　made　fools　of　men。　The　man　whose　wife　was　loving　and　daring　enough；　or　jealous　enough　of　Indian　maids；　to　follow　him　into　the　wilderness　counted　his　friends　by　the　score　and　never　lacked　for　company。　The　first　marriage　in　Virginia　was　between　a　laborer　and　a　waiting　maid；　and　yet　there　was　as　great　a　deal　of　candy　stuff　as　if　it　had　been　the　nuptials　of　a　lieutenant　of　the　shire。　The　brother　of　　my　Lord　de　la　Warre　stood　up　with　the　groom；　the　brother　of　my　Lord　of　Northumberland　gave　away　the　bride　and　was　the　first　to　kiss　her；　and　the　President　himself　held　the　caudle　to　their　lips　that　night。　Since　that　wedding　there　had　been　others。　Gentlewomen　made　the　Virginia　voyage　with　husband　or　father；　women　signed　as　servants　and　came　over；　to　marry　in　three　weeks'　time；　the　husband　paying　good　tobacco　for　the　wife's　freedom；　in　the　cargoes　of　children　sent　for　apprentices　there　were　many　girls。　And　last；　but　not　least；　had　come　Sir　Edwyn's　doves。　Things　had　changed　since　that　day　…　at　the　memory　of　which　men　still　held　their　sides　…　when　Madam　West；　then　the　only　woman　in　the　town　with　youth　and　beauty；　had　marched　down　the　street　to　the　pillory；　mounted　it；　called　to　her　the　drummer；　and　ordered　him　to　summon　to　the　square　by　tuck　of　drum　every　man　in　the　place。　Which　done；　and　the　amazed　population　at　hand；　gaping　at　the　spectacle　of　the　wife　of　their　commander　（then　absent　from　home）　pilloried　before　th