“That is why the king appointed another governor. As soon as Fletcher heard of this check upon his practices, he showed his knavery in a new light. He leased the King’s farm, which should by right go to the support of Earl Richard’s household. He gave the center of the island to Van Volkenberg so as to have a friend near at hand. The dog had the impudence to title the patroon with this very house. This estate was deeded to my husband during his lifetime, and Fletcher gave it to the patroon from the day of his death, notwithstanding the fact that Sir Evelin was alive at the time of the grant. Earl Bellamont has reversed the grant and only yesterday, the first day of the new Assembly, this estate was given to me and my heirs forever. Van Volkenberg swears he will have it yet if he has to fight for it. We shall see about that.” A servant came to the door to take orders for my lady’s coach. She told him to have it ready before eleven, as she intended to wait upon the Earl at that hour. “Bellamont prides himself on his gentle blood,” she continued as soon as the servant had left us alone. “But it is a great clog to him at times. It was all I could do to get him to permit you to watch secretly upon the strange ship that has come into the bay. He is greatly addicted to open means and he said that it would be taking an unfair advantage to spy on people of whom we knew no absolute harm. But I urged necessity and told him flatly that if he did not I should commission you to do it myself. That fetched him. In spite of his fine blood he is jealous withal. The very idea of someone plotting without his help sets him on end with curiosity. Mark my word, before we are done with this affair we shall have to jog our own gait if we are to jog at all. You must fight a rogue with a rogue’s tricks. Never forget that. However, we must be careful not to ruffle the Earl and not to set his jealousy agog.” A little later I was booted and spurred and ready to ride at the side of my mistress’s coach. We set out, accompanied by her numerous retinue of state. At every street corner we were greeted with cheers, for the common people loved her well. I noticed that more than one of the persons we passed on the way showed surprise in his face at seeing a well-mounted stranger in the place of honor by the coach. We passed the Jacobite Coffee-House and among those who stood upon the upper balcony to see us pass was the patroon. He frowned sullenly in answer to Lady Marmaduke’s dignified bow of recognition, which sign of displeasure caused her to break into merry laughter. “I shall drive the old fox into his hole yet,” she said in an undertone, when we had passed the tavern. “But he is a crafty old fox. No one can deny that.” At the outer entrance of the fort I dismounted and led Lady Marmaduke through the stone arch and across the paved court to the governor’s mansion.