Adventure Magazine Cover, April 1916 — page 71: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Days of Morgan “We estimate it at 300,000 crowns, my liege,”’ replied Nancy, “but I do not know what the sum will prove to be exactly, until it hath been appraised.”’ ‘A 'goodly fortune,” commented his Maj- esty. ‘“‘And would have been larger, but for the lead which we did practically give away to Captain Morgan, a vast quantity of it, sire, which he did agree to take in trade for pro- visions and other goods, yet cheated us in at the last.” “*Tis ample, what you have,’ returned Charles with a grimace. “Would to God it were mine,”’ he added petulantly, ‘‘and I warrant I should quickly be rid of this beg- garly Parliament that doth trouble me sore- ly. Nay, Sir Godfrey,” he smiled quickly, raising his delicate fingers, while Captain Stillingfleet, overcome by the knighthood that had been so nonchalantly conferred upon him, dropped to his knee and kissed his sovereign’s hand, ‘‘take me not serious- ly. I do but jest, nor offer me a share in this treasure, for I will take the will for the deed. ‘“‘As for my friend, Don Luis, od’s-fish! I can see him now, up to his neck in the jungle, beset by mosquitoes and crocodiles, and what other vermin there be in those parts. Nathless, an’ he could not take care of his own, I shall not worry my head about his plight, for he did ever love me best when my purse was fullest, and hath bled me white for the scanty service he did ever render me—nor am I sure he did not come by this English ship by foul means and treachery. And since he is not here to claim the lands in Devonshire I had re- served for him, I dare say I can do no better than by conferring them upon ou. “But believe me,” he added, turning to Nancy, “I reward him thus only that through him I may serve you, who have brought such honor to our arms and stimu- lated our fleet which doth sadly need such inspiration.” With this, the king suddenly took one of Nancy’s hands within his own, and placed it in Sir Godfrey’s mighty fist, whereat both of them'reddened so furiously that the king exclaimed with mock rapture he had never seen the like in Whitehall, and did believe a similar thing had never happened before within those walls, for that they were the first blushes he had observed there. ) 69 “NAY, my liege,’’ stammered Cap- tain Stillingfleet, ‘‘since she alone is deserving of your Majesty’s favors, as most cheerfully and gladly do I admit, I pray you, confer these estates upon her alone.” “What!” cried Charles, leaning back in his chair, a look of astonishment upon his handsome face. ‘‘Do you then decline the lady’s hand? By God’s light! The inci- dent is unique. Never before has it hap- pened—nor would I have believed it could!”’ ‘Sire, ’tis through no fault of my own— the lady is promised to another.” “‘Ods-fish! Thou art a simpleton, sir. I should make thee Duke of Numskull! Will you tell me to my face that Charles Stuart knows naught of women? This lass hath felt thy kisses and is afire to feel them again, sir. And now, be off with you, and when you go upon your honeymoon you might easily combine business with pleasure by spending it in Paris, where the errand upon which you started thither some months ago still awaits your attention.” “Nay, my liege,’ burst forth Nancy, ‘“‘but there is no need now for that.” , The king regarded her with amazement, looking in great perplexity from her to Captain Stillingfleet, and then back to her again. At last said he: “What know you of this business?” She hung her head and was silent. “This boy hath been babbling, I’ll be bound. What say you now, Mr. Evelyn, of the value of discipline?”’ ‘* *Twas nothing much that he said, sire,” said Nancy softly. ‘‘ "T'was only a careless word dropped, and would have meant noth- ing to another. But my liege, I am John Chillingworth’s daughter.”’ The king in his excitement sprang to his feet and stood looking down at her. “Daughter of John Chillingworth!” he ex- claimed. “Daughter to that arch-traitor!’’ He fell into a reverie, then threw back his head and laughed that singularly win- ning Stuart laugh. “‘Ods-fish! Solomon was right! Why, here I have gone and conferred upon John Chillingworth’s daughter’s husband that is to be, the estates which he hath forfeited for his treason.” “Nay, sire,” said Godfrey Stillingfleet, blushing furiously and clasping and un- clasping his hands nervously, “I fear your Majesty did not understand that I can not CoMmicboooks CO