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come to. Mad? Ay, you may say so.’
    The truth was that Sir Nicholas would swoop lightning-swift into some hare-brained emprise and be off again victorious while you stood agape at his hardihood.
    Thus with his sweeping off of Dona Dominica, before she had time to fetch her breath. And all with no more than a careless snap of the fingers, as it were. Oh, a hardy fellow, God wot!
    Dominica thought of all this as she stood looking down at him now, and since Beauvallet paid no heed to her, nor ever looked up towards the deck where she stood she presently gave vent to a scornful little laugh, and remarked to the chasing clouds: ‘A merchant, counting stolen goods!’
    Beauvallet looked quickly up. The sun was on his uncovered head, and in his blue eyes; he put up a hand to shade them. ‘My Lady Disdain! Give you a thousand good-morrows!’
    ‘The morrow will not be good while I am upon such a ship as this,’ she said provocatively.
    ‘Now what's amiss?’ demanded Sir Nicholas, and sprang down from the cask. ‘What ails the ship?’
    He was halfway up the companion, which was maybe what she wanted, but she would not have him know that. ‘Pray you, stay below amongst your gains, señor.’
    He was beside her on the deck now, swung a leg over the rail, and sat there like some careless boy. ‘What's amiss?’ he repeated. ‘More dust in the alleyway?’
    She gave the smallest of sniffs. ‘There is this amiss, señor, that this is a pirate vessel, and you are mine enemy!’
    ‘That in your teeth, my lass!’ he said gaily. ‘I am no enemy of yours.’
    She tried to look witheringly upon him, but it seemed to have no effect. ‘You are the declared enemy of all Spaniards, señor, and well I know it.’
    ‘But I have it in mind, sweetheart, to make an Englishwoman of you,’ said Beauvallet frankly.
    She was fairly taken aback. She gasped, flushed, and clenched her little hands.
    ‘Now where's that dagger?’ said Beauvallet, watching her in some amusement.
    She flounced round upon her heel, and swept away to the poop. She was outraged and speechless, but she could still wonder whether he would follow. She need have been in no doubt. He let her gain the poop, out of sight of his men, and came up with her there. He set his hands on her shoulders, and twisted her round to face him. The teasing light went out of his eyes, and his voice was softened. ‘Lady, you called me a mocker, but for once I do not jest. Here my solemn promise! I will make you an Englishwoman before a year is gone by. And so seal my bond.’ He bent his handsome head quickly, and kissed her lips before she could stop him.
    She cried out indignantly, and her hands flew to avenge the insult. But he had her measure, and was ready for the swift reprisal. She found her hands caught and imprisoned, and his face close above hers, smiling down into her angry eyes. ‘Will you rate me for a knave, or pity me for a poor mad fellow?’ said Sir Nicholas, teasing again.
    ‘I hate you!’ she said, and spoke with some passion. ‘I despise you, and I hate you!’
    He let her go. ‘Hate me? But why?’
    She brushed her hand across her lips, as though she would brush his kiss away. ‘How dared you – !’ she choked. ‘Holdme – kiss me! Oh, base! It's to insult me!’ She fled towards the companion leading down to the staterooms.
    He was before her, barring the way. ‘Hold, child! Here's some tangle. I would wed you. Did I not say it?’
    She stamped, tried to push past him, and failed. ‘You will never wed me!’ she defied him. ‘You are ungenerous, base! You hold me prisoner, and do as you will with me!’
    He had her fast indeed, with his hands gripping her arms above the elbows. He shook her slightly. ‘Nay nay, there's no talk of prisoners or of gaolers, Dominica, but only of a man and a maid. What harm have I done you?’
    ‘You forced me! You dared to kiss me, and held me powerless!’
    ‘I cry pardon. But you may stab me with mine own dagger,