The Captain played with his rapier hilt, and considered. What bothered him was the celerity with which the shutters had been closed--he had seen them swing shut almost simultaneously, as they approached. If this man spoke truthfully, then there was grave doubt of success--and, even if successful, a sorry depletion of his men, before he attained it. He had slipped into the Chesapeake to raid among the plantations close to the water, with the chance of picking up a fat merchantman or two, going to convoy off the Capes. This was the first attempt--brought about by information, from one of the men who knew something of the country, that Hedgely Hall was particularly good picking. He had not anticipated more than a momentary resistance--now, he was not so sure; it might take hours, and, in the meantime, his ship was lying in the river, with but two hands aboard. And a pirate without a ship is not long a pirate! "Monsieur, it is this way," said he. "I must weigh anchor and away--we have spent overlong here, as it is. I will trust you----" Marbury bowed in affected gratitude. "If you will trust me," the Captain went on, and bowed back at him. "How much specie have you in the house?" "Twelve hundred pounds," Marbury answered promptly. "It is not enough--I must have two thousand." "You ask what is physically impossible--I have no more." "You have your ancestral silver, and the women's jewels." "The ladies are in Annapolis," said Marbury, readily, "and I possess no ancestral silver; I am a new man in Maryland. What little of my own there is shall be included." The pirate regarded him in stern silence for a moment--then he suddenly swung forward his sword hilt. "Will you swear, on the Cross, to the truth of what you have said?" he inquired. "Certainly, sir, I will swear, if you wish it," said Marbury, raising his hand. "But I warn you, that the Cross is no more sacred to me than, I fancy, it is to you." The sword sank back into its place, and the pirate chief laughed softly. "And I would have known you lied, had you sworn," he said. "So be it. Pay over the twelve hundred pounds and the silver, and I, on my part, promise to depart straightway, and to leave you in peace, hereafter." "You, and all your crew?" questioned Marbury. "Oh, certainly--I and all my crew." "But what assurance have I, that, when the money is paid over to you, you will withdraw?" said Marbury cautiously. "My friend, as I have already said, you will have to trust my faith. If I capture the house, I should take the gold, anyway, so you lose nothing, in the end, and may gain much. Come, monsieur, to business, either of gold or blood--which shall it be? Long-Sword makes few compacts--those compacts he keeps." "Long-Sword!" exclaimed Marbury, in amazement. "The same, monsieur, perchance you have heard of me." "Who has not heard of you----"