human
Who are you?
gpt
How came you here?
human
Are you alone?
gpt
Aye!
human
Then wherefore trouble to shave your beard?
gpt
Are you alone?
human
I was.
gpt
And I would you were again.
human
So do I.
gpt
You are Englishman--yes?
human
I am.
gpt
My mother was English--a poor thing that spent her days weeping and died of her tears when I was small--ah, very small, on this island.
human
Here?
gpt
Twenty and one years agone! said she, combing away at her glossy hair.
human
My mother was English like you, but my father was a noble gentleman of Spain and Governor of Santa Catalina, Don Esteban da Silva y Montreale, and killed by Tressady--Black Tressady--
gpt
What, Roger Tressady--o' the Hook?
human
True, Señor Englishman, said she softly and glancing up at me through her hair;
gpt
I know him for a cursed pirate and murderer!
human
said she, fixing me with her great eyes.
gpt
I am pirate, yes--and have used dagger and pistol ere to-day and shall again.
human
And wear a woman's shape!
gpt
Ha--yes, yes! cried she, gnashing her teeth.
human
And there's my curse--I am woman and therefore do hate all women. But my soul is a man's so do I use all men to my purpose, snare them by my woman's arts and make of 'em my slaves. See you; there is none of all my lovers but doth obey me, and so do I rule, with ships and men at my command and fearing no man--
gpt
And yet, said I, interrupting,
human
Tush--these were mostly drunken rogues that knew me not, 'listed but late from a prize we took and burned. I shall watch them die yet! Soon shall come Belvedere in the _Happy Despatch_ to my relief, or Rodriquez of the _Vengeance_ or Rory or Sol--one or other or all shall come a-seeking me, soon or late. Meantime, I bide here and 'tis well you stayed me from killing you, for though I love not Englishmen, I love solitude less, so are you safe from me so long as we be solitary. Ah--you smile because you are fool and know me not yet! Ah, ah--mayhap you shall grow wiser anon. But now, said she, rising and putting away her comb,
gpt
Also you are very foul of blood!
human
Yes, says she soft-voiced, and glancing from me to her stained finery and back again.
gpt
Yes. And is this so great a matter?
human
To-night you murdered a man!
gpt
I killed him--yes. Cestiforo--he was drunk. And was this so great a matter?
human
And you--a woman!
gpt
Aye, to my sorrow! said she, gnashing white teeth,
human
Yet am I strong as a man and bolder than most.
gpt
God preserve me from such!
human
You--you? cried she.
gpt
What thing are you that seeming man must blench at a little blood? Are you yourself so innocent, you that know Tressady o' the Hook?
human
Howbeit I am no murderer, woman.
gpt
Ah--bah! cried she, with flick of scornful fingers.
human
Enough of words, Master Innocent. Bring me where I may eat and bed me till morning.