The gates were flung open, and the excited people poured out again upon the river bank. I found myself beside the Governor, whose honest countenance wore an expression of profound bewilderment. "What d'ye make of her, Percy?" he said. "The Company doesn't send servants, felons, 'prentices, or maids in such craft; no, nor officers or governors, either. It's the King's ship, sure enough, but what is she doing here?--that's the question. What does she want, and whom does she bring?" "We'll soon know," I answered, "for there goes her anchor." Five minutes later a boat was lowered from the ship, and came swiftly toward us. The boat had four rowers, and in the stern sat a tall man, black-bearded, high-coloured, and magnificently dressed. It touched the sand some two hundred feet from the spot where Governor, Councillors, officers, and a sprinkling of other sorts stood staring at it, and at the great ship beyond. The man in the stern leaped out, looked around him, and then walked toward us. As he walked slowly, we had leisure to 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 Honour," he said, "unless handsome is as handsome does. That, gentlemen, is my Lord Carnal,--that is the King's latest favourite." 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 Honour 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 favourite 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 couldn'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?"