human
There, there, Martin! said he, patting my shoulder as I had been a petulant child.
gpt
Never miscall Adam that is your friend, for if you have wasted yourself in a vanity, so have I, for here you see me full of honours, Martin, a justice, a member o' Parliament, a power at Court with great lords eager for my friendship and great ladies eager to wed me. Yet here am I safe at sea and fighting rogues as often as I may, for great riches is a plague that tainteth love and friendship alike--_vanitas vanitatum, omnium vanitas_!
human
Yet your three years have been turned to better account than mine!
gpt
In the matter of houses and land, Martin?
human
Aye! I nodded.
gpt
For my three years I've nought to show but scars and rags.
human
Not so, Martin, for your fortune marched with mine. Lord love you, I never bought stick or stone or acre of land but I bought one for you, comrade, share and share, shipmate. So, if I am a man o' great possessions, so are you, Martin; there be lands and houses in old England waiting their master as you sit there.
gpt
God help me, Adam! said I.
human
What have these years made of me?
gpt
That same scowling, unlovely, honest-hearted self-deluder that is my sworn comrade and blood-brother and that I do love heartily for his own sake and the sake of my lady Joan. For look'ee, she hath oft told me of you and the life you lived together on Bartlemy's Island.
human
And has she so indeed?
gpt
Aye, verily. Lord, Martin, when she waked from her swoon aboard ship and found I had sailed without you, she was like one distraught and was for having me 'bout ship that she might stay to comfort you in your solitude. And so I did, Martin, but we were beset by storm and tempest and blown far out of our course and further beset by pirates and the like evils, and in the end came hardly to England with our lives. No sooner there than my lady fits out an expedition to your relief and I busied with divers weighty concerns, she sails without me and is wrecked in the Downs, whereby she lost her ship and therewith all she possessed, save only Conisby Shene, the which she holdeth in your name, Martin.
human
Adam, said I,
gpt
Oh, Adam, surely this world hath not her like--
human
Assuredly not! quoth he.
gpt
The which doth put me to great wonder you should come to forget her a while--
human
Forget her? I?
gpt
Aye, Martin--in the matter of the--the lady yonder--Madam Joanna--
human
Joanna! I cried, clenching my fists.
gpt
That demon!
human
Ha--demon, is it? quoth Adam, pinching his chin and eyeing me askance.
gpt
Doth your love grow all sudden cold--
human
Love? cried I.
gpt
Nay--my hate waxeth for thing so evil--she is a very devil--
human
Nay, Martin, she is a poor Spanish lady, exceeding comely and with a hand, a foot, an eye, a person of birth and breeding, a dainty lady indeed, yet of a marvellous sweet conversation and gentle deportment, and worthy any man's love. I do allow--
gpt
Man, cried I,
human
Why, true, Martin, true! said Adam soothingly and eyeing me anxious-eyed.
gpt
She is the lady Joanna that you preserved from death and worse, it seems--
human
Says she so, Adam?
gpt
Aye! And, by her showing, some small--some few small--kindnesses have passed betwixt you.
human
Kindnesses?
gpt
Aye, Martin, as is but natural, God knoweth. Kisses, d'ye see, embraces--
human
She lies! quoth I, starting up in bed,
gpt
Why, very well, Martin--
human
Ha, d'ye doubt my word, Adam?
gpt
No, Martin, no--except--when first I clapped eyes on you, she chanced to be lying in your arms, d'ye see?
human
Tush! said I.
gpt
What o' that? 'Twas after she'd set the ship afire and sought to murder Don Federigo; we left her in the 'tween-decks and I found her nigh stifled by the smoke. Have you got her fast in the bilboes--safe under lock and key?
human
Lord love you--no. Martin! said he, viewing me askance as I were raving.
gpt
So young, Martin! And a bullet wound i' the arm and mighty brave, despite her tenderness, so says Penruddock our surgeon.
human
Why then, in God's name--where is she?
gpt
Where should she be, seeing she was wounded and solitary, but with my lady Joan!
human
God forbid!
gpt
Why, Martin, 'tis my lady's whim--they walk together, talk, eat, aye, and sleep together, for aught I know--
human
Adam, said I, grasping him by the arm.
gpt
You know Captain Tressady of old, and Mings and Red Rory, Sol Aiken and others of the Coast Brotherhood, but have you ever met the fiercest, bravest, greatest of these rogues; have you ever heard tell of Captain 'Jo'?
human
Aye, truly, Martin, some young springald that hath risen among 'em since my time, a bloody rogue by account and one I would fain come alongside of--
gpt
Captain Jo lies in your power, Adam; Captain Jo is aboard; Captain Jo is Joanna herself! 'Twas Joanna fought the _Happy Despatch_ so desperately!