The Pirate Story Megapack. R.M. Ballantyne

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СКАЧАТЬ Moorish garb like one bewildered. “And thou art my mistress now” (turning again to Moll).

      “Alas!” says she, bowing her head and covering her eyes with her hand.

      “Han’t I told you so, unbelieving Jew Quaker!” growls Captain Ballcock, in exasperation. “Why will you plague the unhappy lady with her loss?”

      “We will leave Evans to repose,” says Moll, brushing her eyes and turning to the door. “You will save his life, Doctor, for he has given me mine.”

      The doctor vowed he would, if bleeding and boluses could make him whole, and so, leaving him with poor groaning Dawson, we went into the next chamber. And there Captain Ballcock was for taking his leave; but Moll, detaining him, says:

      “We owe you something more than gratitude—we have put you to much expense.”

      “Nay,” cries he. “I will take nought for doing a common act of mercy.”

      “You shall not be denied the joy of generosity,” says she, with a sweet grace. “But you must suffer me to give your ship’s company some token of my gratitude.” Then turning to Simon with an air of authority, she says, “Simon, I have no money.”

      The poor man fumbled in his pocket, and bringing out a purse, laid it open, showing some four or five pieces of silver and one of gold, which he hastily covered with his hand.

      “I see you have not enough,” says Moll, and taking up a pen she quickly wrote some words on a piece of paper, signing it “Judith Godwin.” Then showing it to Simon, she says, “You will pay this when it is presented to you,” and therewith she folds it and places it in the captain’s hand, bidding him farewell in a pretty speech.

      “A hundred pounds! a hundred pounds!” gasps Simon, under his breath, in an agony and clutching up his purse to his breast.

      “I am astonished,” says Moll, returning from the door, and addressing Simon, with a frown upon her brow, “that you are not better furnished to supply my wants, knowing by my letter how I stand.”

      “Mistress,” replies he, humbly, “here is all I could raise upon such sudden notice”—laying his purse before her.

      “What is this?” cries she, emptying the contents upon the table. “’Tis nothing. Here is barely sufficient to pay for our accommodation in this inn. Where is the money to discharge my debt to these friends who have lost all in saving me? You were given timely notice of their purpose.”

      “Prithee, be patient with me, gentle mistress. ’Tis true, I knew of their intent, but they were to have returned in six months, and when they came not at the end of the year I did truly give up all for lost; and so I made a fresh investment of thy fortune, laying it out all in life bonds and houses, to great worldly advantage, as thou shalt see in good time. Ere long I may get in some rents—”

      “And in the meanwhile are we to stay in this plight—to beg for charity?” asks Moll, indignantly. “Nay, mistress. Doubtless for your present wants this kind merchant friend—”

      “We have lost all,” says I, “Evans his ship, and I the lading in which all my capital was embarked.”

      “And I every maravedi I possessed,” adds the Don.

      “And had they not,” cries Moll, “were they possessed now of all they had, think you that I with an estate, as I am told, of sixty thousand pounds would add to the debt I owe them by one single penny!”

      “If I may speak in your steward’s defence, Madam,” says I, humbly, “I would point out that the richest estate is not always readily converted into money. ’Tis like a rich jewel which the owner, though he be starving, must hold till he find a market.”

      “Thee hearest him, mistress,” cries Simon, in delight. “A man of business—a merchant who knows these things. Explain it further, friend, for thine are words of precious wisdom.”

      “With landed property the case is even more difficult. Tenants cannot be forced to pay rent before it is due, nor can their messuages be sold over their heads. And possibly all your capital is invested in land—”

      “Every farthing that could be scraped together,” says Simon, “and not a rood of it but is leased to substantial men. Oh! what excellent discourse! Proceed further, friend.”

      “Nevertheless,” says I, “there are means of raising money upon credit. If he live there still, there is a worthy Jew in St. Mary Axe, who upon certain considerations of interest—”

      “Hold, friend,” cries Simon. “What art thee thinking of? Wouldst deliver my simple mistress into the hands of Jew usurers?”

      “Not without proper covenants made out by lawyers and attorneys.”

      “Lawyers, attorneys, and usurers! Heaven have mercy upon us! Verily, thee wouldst infest us with a pest, and bleed us to death for our cure.”

      “I will have such relief as I may,” says Moll; “so pray, sir, do send for these lawyers and Jews at once, and the quicker, since my servant seems more disposed to hinder than to help me.”

      “Forbear, mistress; for the love of God, forbear!” cries Simon, in an agony, clasping his hands. “Be not misguided by this foolish merchant, who hath all to gain and nought to lose by this proceeding. Give me but a little space, and their claims shall be met, thy desires shall be satisfied, and yet half of thy estate be saved, which else must be all devoured betwixt these ruthless money-lenders and lawyers. I can make a covenant more binding than any attorney, as I have proved again and again, and” (with a gulp) “if money must be raised at once, I know an honest, a fairly honest, goldsmith in Lombard Street who will lend at the market rate.”

      “These gentlemen,” answers Moll, turning to us, “may not choose to wait, and I will not incommode them for my own convenience.”

      “Something for our present need we must have, Madam,” says the Don, with a significant glance at his outlandish dress; “but those wants supplied, I am content to wait.”

      “And you, sir?” says Moll to me.

      “With a hundred or two,” says I, taking Don Sanchez’s hint, “we may do very well till Michaelmas.”

      “Be reasonable, gentlemen,” implores Simon, mopping his eyes, which ran afresh at this demand. “’Tis but some five or six weeks to Michaelmas; surely fifty pounds—”

      “Silence!” cries Moll, with an angry tap of her foot. “Will three hundred content you, gentlemen? Consider, the wants of our good friend, Captain Evans, may be more pressing than yours.”

      “He is a good, honest, simple man, and I think we may answer for his accepting the conditions we make for ourselves. Then, with some reasonable guarantee for our future payment—”

      “That may be contrived to our common satisfaction, I hope,” says Moll, with a gracious smile. “I owe you half my estate; share my house at Chislehurst with me till the rest is forthcoming. That will give me yet a little longer the pleasure of your company. And there, sir,” turning to me, “you can examine my steward’s accounts for your own satisfaction, and counsel me, mayhap, upon the conduct of my affairs, knowing so much upon matters of business that are incomprehensible to a simple, inexperienced maid. СКАЧАТЬ