To F. D. H....

The deck was a shambles. Men lay dead and dying; there was split woodwork, a welter of broken mizzen and sagging sail, dust and grime, and the reek of powder. A ball screamed through the rigging overh...

Doña Dominica was escorted below decks, and led to a fair cabin which she guessed to be the home of Master Dangerfield, hurriedly evicted. She was left there alone, while Master Dangerfield took her f...

The second day was very bright, with a hot sun beating down upon the sea, and a stiff breeze blowing to fill the sails. Don Manuel remained below on his bunk, worn and shaken by the agitations and exe...

Doña Dominica thought it imperative that Beauvallet’s impudence should be suitably punished, and took it upon herself to perform this pious office. Master Dangerfield was a tool ready to her hand; she...

Don Manuel took an early opportunity of finding out, as he imagined, what were his daughter’s feelings. He asked her without preamble how she liked Sir Nicholas. God knows what the poor gentleman thou...

The Venture was left in Plymouth Sound, under charge of Master Culpepper, and her treasure safely stored. She was docked, and would be clean careened before she could put to sea again. Beauvallet stay...

To my Lady Beauvallet, discovered in the Long Gallery, Gerard exposed the folly of his brother. He sat him down heavily in a chair covered with gilded leather, and spoke bitterly and long. My lady lis...

It was over three months later that Sir Nicholas Beauvallet went riding southwards from Paris towards the Spanish border. There had been some necessary delay at home: treasure to be bestowed at the Qu...

It was an easy matter to cross the Frontier, armed with the Chevalier de Guise’s credentials. From as much of the despatch to Philip as he could read, or was not sealed, Beauvallet had learned that th...

In bed next morning Sir Nicholas sipped a cup of chocolate and gave ear to his servant. Joshua had the news he wanted, and imparted it after his own fashion as he laid out his master’s dress. A bottle...

When she first heard of the projected ball to be given in honour of Don Diego’s birthday Dominica pleaded her mourning state, and said that she could not be present. She had a suspicion that this ball...

It seemed an age before the house was quiet, and all lights put out. Dominica sent her sleepy tirewoman away as soon as she came up from the ball. The woman made little resistance, she could hardly ke...

It was not perhaps surprising that in so short a time the gay Chevalier de Guise made some noise about the town. He had the trick of it. To be secret, to lie close, seemed to be no part of his design....

Don Diego, accompanying his parents and his cousin to an evening party at the house of Don Luis de Noveli suspected his cousin of going only to meet the Chevalier. His mother was more than weary of th...

Joshua Dimmock, prowling in the shadows outside the Casa Noveli, saw enough, and more than enough to set him fingering his dagger. Certain, it itched to be out, but “Yarely, my man, yarely,” Joshua ca...

Upon the morning following the strange arrest King Philip was disturbed at his orisons by a secretary made overbold by the amazing news. He must needs, forgetful of time and place, blurt out to his ma...

No word came from the Alcazar to summon Dominica to answer an examination. Don Rodriguez, uneasily awaiting such a summons, brought back word first that the Chevalier was to be held in ward pending th...

Ever since the first day of his imprisonment Sir Nicholas had been waited on always by two men. Never one came without the other, and although, gradually, this precaution had become little more than a...

Outside the wall that enclosed the Governor’s garden Joshua waited, safe in the shadows. He had a coil of rope in his hand, and had hitched his dagger round so that he might easily come at it. He shiv...

The big coach that bore Dominica away from Madrid pushed northwards with what speed it could make. Four horses dragged it, and these were changed at every post. For a lady of such natural indolence Do...

The riders hedged Dominica closely about, and struggle as she might there was no withstanding the insistent drag on her bridle. She fought desperately to rein in her horse, but the bridle was wrenched...

Of that mad ride through Spain Joshua never afterwards spoke without a shake of the head, and a gesture of incredulity. “You ask me how we compassed it?” says he. “I will tell you very simply, I do no...

The track through the forest was found, and Beauvallet’s horse leaped forward under the spur. Joshua, pressing up close, looked anxiously into his master’s grimly smiling face. “Master, what is it?” h...

The horse he had snatched was a fleet curtal bay, and responded readily enough to the clap of heels to his flanks. Sir Nicholas held him on his course with a hard hand, heard behind him shouts and the...

They were up at cockcrow next morning, and away upon their long ride north just as soon as they had broken their fast, and procured fresh horses. Dominica felt herself to be moving in a dream; events ...

“And so we came off,” says Joshua Dimmock, sure of the last word. “You say a miracle? Ho, we do not count such trifles as miraculous in my master’s service! Yet I allow it to have been a feat, and do ...

Pedigree of the House of Beauvallet for those readers who are interested in the fortunes of the descendants of Simon the Coldheart, 1st Baron Beauvallet. [1] b. 1385, out of wedlock. Son of Geoffrey, ...