"But as for us captains, really your Excellency must consider that we are gentlemen born, and give us either buena querra, as the Spaniards say, or a fair chance for life; and so to my business."
"Stay, sir. Answer this first. Have you or yours any commission to show either from the King of Spain or any other potentate?"
"Never a one but the cause of Heaven and our own swords. And with them, my Lord, we are ready to meet any gentlemen of your camp, man to man, with our swords only, half-way between your leaguer and ours; and I doubt not that your Lordship will see fair play. Will any gentleman accept so civil an offer? There sits a tall youth in that corner who would suit me very well. Will any fit my gallant comrades with half-an-hour's punto and stoccado?"
There was a silence, all looking at the Lord Deputy, whose eyes were kindling in a very ugly way.
"No answer? Then I must proceed to exhortation. So! Will that be sufficient?"
And walking composedly across the tent, the fearless ruffian quietly stooped down, and smote Amyas Leigh full in the face.
Up sprang Amyas, heedless of all the august assembly, and with a single buffet felled him to the earth.
"Excellent!" said he, rising unabashed. "I can always trust my instinct. I knew the moment I saw him that he was a cavalier worth letting blood. Now, sir, your sword and harness, and I am at your service outside!"
The solemn and sententious Englishmen were altogether taken aback by the Italian's impudence; but Zouch settled the matter.
"Most noble Captain, will you be pleased to recollect a certain little occurrence at Messina, in the year 1575? For if you do not, I do; and beg to inform this gentleman that you are unworthy of his sword, and had you, unluckily for you, been an Englishman, would have found the fashions of our country so different from your own that you would have been then hanged, sir, and probably may be so still."
The Italian's sword flashed out in a moment: but Lord Gray interfered.
"No fighting here, gentlemen. That may wait; and what is more, shall wait till—Strike their swords down, Raleigh, Mackworth! Strike their swords down! Colonel Sebastian, you will be pleased to return as you came, in safety, having lost nothing, as (I frankly tell you) you have gained nothing, by your wild bearing here. We shall proceed to deliberate on your fate."
"I trust, my Lord," said Amyas, "that you will spare this braggart's life, at least for a day or two. For in spite of Captain Zouch's warning, I must have to do with him yet, or my cheek will rise up in judgment against me at the last day."
"Well spoken, lad," said the Colonel as he swung out. "So! worth a reprieve, by this sword, to have one more rapier-rattle
