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Page 57
In the porch they encountered the two officers. Paul briefly informed
them of the circumstances, saying, nothing remained but to depart
forthwith.
"With nothing at all for our pains?" murmured the two officers.
"What, pray, would you have?"
"Some pillage, to be sure--plate."
"Shame. I thought we were three gentlemen."
"So are the English officers in America; but they help themselves to
plate whenever they can get it from the private houses of the enemy."
"Come, now, don't be slanderous," said Paul; "these officers you speak
of are but one or two out of twenty, mere burglars and light-fingered
gentry, using the king's livery but as a disguise to their nefarious
trade. The rest are men of honor."
"Captain Paul Jones," responded the two, "we have not come on this
expedition in much expectation of regular pay; but we _did_ rely upon
honorable plunder."
"Honorable plunder! That's something new."
But the officers were not to be turned aside. They were the most
efficient in the ship. Seeing them resolute, Paul, for fear of incensing
them, was at last, as a matter of policy, obliged to comply. For
himself, however, he resolved to have nothing to do with the affair.
Charging the officers not to allow the men to enter the house on any
pretence, and that no search must be made, and nothing must be taken
away, except what the lady should offer them upon making known their
demand, he beckoned to Israel and retired indignantly towards the beach.
Upon second thoughts, he dispatched Israel back, to enter the house with
the officers, as joint receiver of the plate, he being, of course, the
most reliable of the seamen.
The lady was not a little disconcerted on receiving the officers. With
cool determination they made known their purpose. There was no escape.
The lady retired. The butler came; and soon, several silver salvers, and
other articles of value, were silently deposited in the parlor in the
presence of the officers and Israel.
"Mister Butler," said Israel, "let me go into the dairy and help to
carry the milk-pans."
But, scowling upon this rusticity, or roguishness--he knew not
which--the butler, in high dudgeon at Israel's republican familiarity,
as well as black as a thundercloud with the general insult offered to
an illustrious household by a party of armed thieves, as he viewed them,
declined any assistance. In a quarter of an hour the officers left the
house, carrying their booty.
At the porch they were met by a red-cheeked, spiteful-looking lass, who,
with her brave lady's compliments, added two child's rattles of silver
and coral to their load.
Now, one of the officers was a Frenchman, the other a Spaniard.
The Spaniard dashed his rattle indignantly to the ground. The Frenchman
took his very pleasantly, and kissed it, saying to the girl that he
would long preserve the coral, as a memento of her rosy cheeks.
When the party arrived on the beach, they found Captain Paul writing
with pencil on paper held up against the smooth tableted side of the
cliff. Next moment he seemed to be making his signature. With a
reproachful glance towards the two officers, he handed the slip to
Israel, bidding him hasten immediately with it to the house and place it
in Lady Selkirk's own hands.
The note was as follows:
"Madame:
"After so courteous a reception, I am disturbed to make you no better
return than you have just experienced from the actions of certain
persons under my command.--actions, lady, which my profession of arms
obliges me not only to brook, but, in a measure, to countenance. From
the bottom of my heart, my dear lady, I deplore this most melancholy
necessity of my delicate position. However unhandsome the desire of these
men, some complaisance seemed due them from me, for their general good
conduct and bravery on former occasions. I had but an instant to
consider. I trust, that in unavoidably gratifying them, I have inflicted
less injury on your ladyship's property than I have on my own bleeding
sensibilities. But my heart will not allow me to say more. Permit me to
assure you, dear lady, that when the plate is sold, I shall, at all
hazards, become the purchaser, and will be proud to restore it to
you, by such conveyance as you may hereafter see fit to appoint.
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