Chapter 7 The Deliverance — The Fortunes of Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
Realizing that husband and wife would be having a good deal to say to each other, and that to linger at such a time would be intrusive, Captain Blood took an immediate tactful leave, and departed.
In the hall he summoned the waiting Tom Hagthorpe to accompany him, and the lad, understanding nothing of this amazing deliverance, went with him.
None hindering them, they hired a boat at the mole, and so came to the Mary of Modena, in the waist of which the two brothers, reunited, fell into each other's arms, whilst Captain Blood looked on with all the sense of being a beneficent deity.
On the verge of tears, Nat demanded to know by what arts Peter Blood had accomplished this deliverance so speedily and without violence.
'I'll not be saying there was no violence,' said Blood. 'There was, in fact, a deal of it. But it was violence of the emotions. And there's some more of the same kind to be borne yet. But that's for Mr Court.' He turned to the bo'sun who was standing by. 'Pipe the hands to quarters, Jake. We weigh at once.'
He went off to the cabin to which Mr Court was confined. He dismissed the guard posted at the door, and unlocked it. A very furious gentleman greeted him.
'How much longer do you keep me here, you damned scoundrel?'
'And where would you be going now?' wondered Captain Blood.
'Where would I be going? D'ye mock me, you cursed pirate? I'm going ashore, as you well know.'
'Do I, now? I wonder.'
'D'ye mean still to prevent me?'
'Faith, there may not be the need. I have a message for you from Sir James: a message and a book of poetry.'
Faithfully he delivered both. Mr Court changed colour, went limp, and sat down suddenly on a locker.
'Perhaps you'll be less eager now to land on Nevis. It may begin to occur to you that the West Indies are not the healthiest region for dalliance. Jealousy in the tropics can be like the climate--mighty hot and fierce. You'll wisely prefer, I should think, to find a ship somewhere that will carry you safely home to England.'
Mr Court wiped the perspiration from his brow
'Then you're not putting me ashore?'
The thudding of the capstan and the rattle of the anchor chain reached them through the open port of the cabin. Captain Blood's gesture drew attention to the sound.
'We are weighing now. We shall be at sea in half-an-hour.'
'Perhaps it's as well,' Mr Court resignedly admitted.