A quick frown came. He rose from his chair and came to kneel beside hers. "Now what's your meaning, Dominica? Are you so cowed, so submissive?" He caught a glimpse of the flash in her eyes and laughed. "Oh, pretty cheat!" he said softly. "If I dared to touch you you would be swift to strike." Her lip quivered irrepressibly; she looked through her lashes. He took her hand and kissed it. "Well, what is it you would have me tell you?" he asked. "If you please," she said meekly, "where will you set us ashore?" "Some few miles to the west of Santander, sweetheart. There is a smuggling village there will receive us peaceably." "Smugglers!" She looked up. "Oh, so you are that, too? I might have known." "Nay, nay, acquit me," he smiled. "Look scorn instead upon my fat boatswain. His is the blame. He was for many years in the trade, and I believe knows every smuggling port in Europe. We may sail softly in under cover of night, set you ashore, and be gone again before dawn." There was a pause. Dominica looked up at the arms on the wall, and said slowly: "And so ends the adventure." Sir Nicholas rose to his feet again. "Do you think so indeed?" She was grave. "In spite of brave words, señor, I think so. Once in Spain I shall be free--free of you!" He set his hand on his hip; his other hand played with his beard. She should have been wary, but she did not know him so well as did his men. "Lady," said Beauvallet, and she jumped at the note of strong purpose in his voice, "the first of my name, the founder of my house, had, so we read, another watchword than that." His hand flew out and pointed to the scroll beneath his arms. "There is an old chronicle writ by one Alan, afterwards Earl of Montlice, wherein we learn that Simon, the first Baron of Beauvallet, took as his motto these words: '_I have not, but still I hold_.'" His voice rang out, and died again. "Well, señor?" faltered Dominica. "I have you not yet, but be sure I hold you," said Beauvallet. She rallied. "This is folly." "Sweet folly." "I do not believe that you would dare set foot in Spain." "God's Death, do you not? But if I dare, indeed?" She looked down at her clasped hands. "Come! If I dare? If I reach to you in Spain, and claim you then? What answer shall I have?" She was flushed, and her breast rose and fell fast. "Ah, if there were a man brave enough to dare so much for love----!" "He stands before you. What will you give him?" She got up, a hand at her bosom. "If he dared so much--I should have to give--myself, señor." "Remember that promise!" he warned her. "You shall be called upon to redeem it before a year is out." She looked fearfully at him. "But how? how?" "Dear heart," said Beauvallet frankly, "I do not know, but I shall certainly find a way." "Oh, an idle boast!" she cried, and went quickly to the door. His voice stayed her; she paused and looked back over her shoulder. "Well, señor, what more?"