ROLFE coming down by boat from Varina, had reached the town in the dusk of that day which had seen the arrival of the Santa Teresa, and I had gone to him before I slept that night. Early morning found us together again in the field behind the church. We had not long to wait in the chill air and dew-drenched grass. When the red rim of the sun showed like a fire between the trunks of the pines came my Lord Carnal, and with him Master Pory and Dr. Lawrence Bohun. My lord and I bowed to each other profoundly. Rolfe with my sword and Master Pory with my lord's stepped aside to measure the blades. Dr. Bohun, muttering something about the feverishness of the early air, wrapped his cloak about him, and huddled in among the roots of a gigantic cedar. I stood with my back to the church, and my face to the red water between us and the illimitable forest; my lord opposite me, six feet away. He was dressed again splendidly in black and scarlet, colors he much affected, and, with the dark beauty of his face and the arrogant grace with which he stood there waiting for his sword, made a picture worth looking upon. Rolfe and the Secretary came back to us. “If you kill him, Ralph,” said the former in a low voice, as he took my doublet from me, “you are to put yourself in my hands and do as you are bid.” “Which means that you will try to smuggle me north to the Dutch. Thanks, friend, but I'll see the play out here.” “You were ever obstinate, self-willed, reckless--and the man most to my heart,” he continued. “Have your way, in God's name, but I wish not to see what will come of it! All's ready, Master Secretary.” Very slowly that worthy stooped down and examined the ground, narrowly and quite at his leisure. “I like it not, Master Rolfe,” he declared at length. “Here is a molehill, and there a fairy ring.” “I see neither,” said Rolfe. “It looks as smooth as a table. But we can easily shift under the cedars where there is no grass.” “Here's a projecting root,” announced the Secretary, when the new ground had been reached. Rolfe shrugged his shoulders, but we moved again. “The light comes jaggedly through the branches,” objected my lord's second. “Better try the open again.” Rolfe uttered an exclamation of impatience, and my lord stamped his foot on the ground. “What is this foolery, sir?” the latter cried fiercely. “The ground's well enough, and there 's sufficient light to die by.” “Let the light pass, then,” said his second resignedly. “Gentlemen, are you read--Ods blood! my lord, I had not noticed the roses upon your lordship's shoes! They are so large and have such a fall that they sweep the ground on either side your foot; you might stumble in all that dangling ribbon and lace. Allow me to remove them.”