"How long is it since you've been to St. Vallery?" "Some time now; I was at Dieppe last month, and that is very near." "Dalton, you must make St. Vallery before this moon is out, and execute a little commission for me." "Very good, sir; we have never disputed about terms. What is it? any thing in the way of silks, or----" "It is flesh, human flesh, Dalton." "Ah!" exclaimed the Buccaneer, rising and recoiling from the knight. "I've had enough of that, and I'll have no more. Sir Willmott Burrell, you must seek out another man." "Now, Dalton," said Burrell, in his most insinuating tone, "you have not yet heard me, and I take it very unhandsome of an old friend like you to start off in such a manner without knowing why or wherefore. The matter is simply this--a girl, a silly girl, somehow or other got attached to me while I was in France. I have received letter upon letter, talking of her situation, and so forth, and threatening various things; amongst others, to come over here, unless--the idiot!--I acknowledge her as my wife. Now, you know, or perhaps you do not know, that I am betrothed to the daughter of Sir Robert Cecil; and, if I must enter into the holy state, why she is a maiden to be proud of. I have arranged it thus--written to my fair Zillah to get to St. Vallery by a particular day, the date of which I will give you, and told her that a vessel waits to convey her to England. You, Dalton, must guide that vessel, and----but you understand me; words between friends are needless." "The cargo for exportation; Barbadoes perhaps----" "Or----" And Burrell pointed with his finger downwards, though, when he raised his eye to encounter that of the Buccaneer, it was quickly withdrawn. "God, Burrell!" exclaimed Dalton, in a tone of abhorrence, "you are a greater villain than I took you for! Why can't you pay off the girl--send her somewhere--gild the crime?" "Gold is no object with her; she desires honour." The sympathetic chord of the Buccaneer's heart was touched, for the sentiment echoed his own. "Then who is she?" he demanded; "I'll not stir in it unless I know all." Burrell paused for a moment, and then said-- "You have heard of Manasseh Ben Israel, a rabbi, whom it hath pleased a great personage to distinguish with much kindness: nay, his mercy has gone so far as to contemplate receiving that unholy people into commune with us, giving them the right-hand of fellowship, and suffering them to taste of the waters----" "Spritsail and rigging!" interrupted the Buccaneer, whose enraged spirit sought some outlet, "No conventicle lingo here--you forget your company, Sir Willmott. What of the Jew?"