“Your sword is idle and you seek employment for it, Randal. Here is a service you may take with honour. It is the service of the old Commonwealth to which in the old days you were stanch, a service aiming at these enemies who would still deny such men as you a place in England. You strike not only for yourself, but for some thousands in like case. And your country will not forget. We need such swords as yours. I offer you at once a cause and a career. Albemarle puts you off with promises of appointments in which the preference over worth is daily granted to the pimpish friends of the loathly creatures about Charles Stuart’s leprous Court. I have opened my heart to you freely and frankly, even at some risk. What have you to say to me?” Holles rose, his decision taken, his face set. “What I said at first. I am a mercenary. I do not make governments. I serve them. There is no human cause in all the world to-day could move me to enthusiasm.” “Yet you came home that you might serve England in her need.” “Because I did not know where else to go.” “Very well. I accept you at your own valuation, Randal--not that I believe you; but not to confuse the argument. Being here, you find the doors by which you counted upon entering all closed against you, and locked. What are you going to do? You say you are a mercenary; that your concern is but to give a soulless service to the hand that hires you. I present you to a liberal taskmaster; one who will richly reward your service. Since to you all service is alike, let the mercenary answer me.” He, too, had risen, and held out a hand in appeal. The Colonel looked at him seriously awhile; then he smiled. “What an advocate was lost in you, Ned!” said he. “You keep to the point--aye; but also you conveniently miss it. A mercenary serves governments _in esse_; the service of governments _in posse_ is for enthusiasts; and I have had no enthusiasms these ten years and more. Establish your government, and my sword is for your hire, and gladly. But do not ask me to set my head upon the board in this gamble to establish it; for my head is my only remaining possession.” “If you will not strike a blow for love, will you not strike one for hate: against the Stuart, whose vindictiveness will not allow you to earn your bread?” “You overstate the case. Though much that you have said of him may be true, I will not yet despair of the help of Albemarle.” “Why, you blind madman, I tell you--I swear to you--that in a very little while Albemarle will be beyond helping any man, beyond helping even himself.” Holles was about to speak, when Tucker threw up a hand to arrest him.