Daughter of Satan Read Online Free PDF Page A

the house. Richard rang the bell, which Luce answered. He asked for cakes and wine.
    Mistress Alton brought the refreshment, with Luce in attendance. Mistress Alton’s mouth seemed firmer since the adventure of Whit Sunday night; there was a faint disapproval in her eyes, and Richard guessed that was for himself because of his leniency towards God’s enemies. He smiled at her sardonically. Then his attention went to the girl, and fleetingly he wondered if her back still smarted from the whipping she must have received that night.
    Sir Humphrey’s attention went immediately to the women, for it was natural for him to assess women as he assessed his horses. He knew the Alton type; she hated the thought of other people’s love-making because she had missed having any of her own. A stick of a woman. No good, no good at all. But the girl? He had not noticed her before; she had always run at his approach, he believed . . . a shy, slip of a girl, hardly ready till now to satisfy his purposes. She was still young, but not too young. Rather like a comely boy with her hair short like that. Sir Humphrey decided to keep an eye on Richard’s serving wench. Not that he would go out of his way . . . but if the opportunity came . . . well, he’d be ready for it. And Sir Humphrey was the kind of man whom opportunity invariably favoured.
    When the servants went out, Bartle sat entranced, listening to the conversation of his elders.
    â€˜By God,’ Sir Humphrey was saying. ‘Drake is straining at the leash, man. Of course he is. Does he want to wait in harbour, cowering from the gale like a child behind its nurse’s skirts? No, sir. He should out and at ’em! There’s restiveness aboard. I know. Drake says, “We’ll go and tackle the Spaniard in his own seas.” But “No!” says the Queen. And “No!” says her Council. “Stay close to the land and protect
us
,” By God, sir, that’s not Drake’s way. First to the attack; that’s our Admiral. And he’s right. By God, he’s proved it. He’s proved it a thousand times.’
    The boy jumped up and down in his chair.
    â€˜It would seem,’ said Richard, ‘that it is no good thing to have men of theories impending men of action. Had he been given his head, I am inclined to think our danger would be past ere this. Sir Francis is manacled by instructions from London. He knows the course he wishes to take.
Fortes fortuna adjuvat
.’
    â€˜What’s that?’ said Sir Humphrey.
    â€˜Bartle will tell you,’ said Richard; ‘or he should be able to.’
    But Bartle could not tell his father, and Sir Humphrey was not greatly disturbed on that score.
    â€˜Alas! Bartle, it would seem you are a sad pupil. I asked your tutor how you did, and he shook his head in a most melancholy fashion. You dream too much of adventure, of the sea, of bringing home treasure. Is that not so?’
    â€˜Then he dreams a man’s dreams,’ said Sir Humphrey.
    Bartle said: ‘The coming of these ships will mean that our fleet will sail to the attack.’ His face fell. ‘They will fight away from-our coast . . . along the coast of Spain, mayhap in Cadiz Harbour. The Spaniards will see the fight instead of us.’
    Sir Humphrey let out a roar of laughter. ‘They’ll never make a scholar of you, boy. He’d rather see a fight than know the meaning of a Latin tag, wouldn’t you, son?’ Sir Humphrey looked into his wine. ‘There’s something that bothers me, Richard. You know . . . you shouldn’t have stopped ’em the other night. Witches is witches, and the sooner we find out who among us is with the Devil, the better for us all.’
    Richard looked at Bartle. ‘You may find a peach or two in the gardens,’ he said.
    â€˜Nay!’ said Sir Humphrey. ‘Let the boy stay. I don’t want him made into a mincing dainty who