Birds of Prey - Smith Wilbur (полная версия книги .TXT) 📗

"She was never worthy of you," Sir Francis said softly. "Now that you have renounced her, you have taken another mighty leap into manhood."

Did his father really understand, Hal wondered. Did he know what had taken place? Did he know of Hal's feelings? If that were so, surely he would long ago have rejected him. He turned and looked into Sir Francis's eyes, fearing to see them filled with scorn and revulsion.

But his father's gaze was mellow with understanding. Hal realized that he knew everything, and had probably known all along. Far from rejecting him, his father was offering him strength and redemption.

"I have committed adultery, and I have disgraced my Knighthood," Hal whispered. "I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

The manacle on his wrist clinked as Sir Francis laid his hand on the boy's knee. "IT was this harlot that led you astray. The blame is not yours. You will always be my son and I shall always be proud of you, "he whispered.

Van de Velde frowned down upon Sir Francis. "Silence! No more of your muttering! Is it another touch of the cane you are seeking?" He turned back to his wife. "Mevrouw, you have been very brave. I am sure Mijnheer Hop will not wish to trouble you further." He transferred his gaze to the unfortunate clerk, who scrambled to his feet.

"Mevrouw!" The single word came out sharp and clear as a pistol shot, surprising Hop as much as everyone -else in court. "We thank you for your testimony, and we have no questions." There was only one catch, on the word "testimony," and Hop sat down again triumphantly.

"Well said, Hop." Van de Velde beamed at him in avuncular fashion, and then turned a doting smile on his wife. "You may return to your seat, Mevrouw." There was a lust-laden hush and every man in the hall let his gaze drop as Katinka. lifted her skirts just high enough to expose her perfect little ankles clad in white silk and stepped down from the platform.

As soon as she was seated, Schreuder said, "Now, Lord Cumbrae, may we trouble you?"

In his full regalia the Buzzard mounted the platform, and as he took the oath placed one hand on the flashing yellow cairngorm in the hilt of his dagger. Once Schreuder had established who and what he was, he asked the Buzzard, "Do you know the pirate captain, Courtney?"

"Like a brother." Cumbrae smiled down on Sir Francis. "Once we were close."

"Not any more?" Schreuder asked sharply.

"Alas, it pains me but when my old friend began to change there was a parting of our ways, although I still feel great affection for him."

"How did he change?"

"Well, he was always a braw laddie, was Franky. We sailed in company on many a day, through storm and the balmy days. There was no man I loved better, fair he was and honest, brave and generous to his friends-" Cumbrae broke off and an expression of deep sorrow knitted his brow.

"You speak in the past tense, my lord, what changed?" "Twos Francis who changed. At first it was in little things he was cruel to his captives and hard on his crew, flogging and hanging when it weren't called for. Then he changed towards his old friends, lying and cheating them out of their share of the prize. He became a hard man and bitter."

"Thank you for this honesty," Schreuder said, "I can see it gives you no pleasure to reveal these truths."

"No pleasure at all," Cumbrae confirmed with sadness. "I hate to see my old friend in chains, though God Almighty knows well he deserves no mercy for his murderous behaviour towards honest Dutch seamen, and innocent women."

"When did you last sail in company with Courtney?"

"It was not too long ago, in April of this year. Our two ships were on patrol together off Agulhas, waiting to waylay the Company galleons as they rounded the Cape to call in here at Table Bay." There was a murmur of patriotic anger from the spectators, which van de Velde ignored.

"Were you, then, also a corsair?" Schreuder glared at him. "Were you also preying on Dutch shipping?"

"No, Colonel Schreuder, I was not a pirate or a corsair.

During the recent war between our two countries, I was a commissioned privateer."

"Pray, my lord, tell us the difference between a pirate and a privateer?"

"Tis simply that a privateer sails under Letters of Marque issued by his sovereign in times of war, and so is a legitimate man-of-war. A pirate is a robber and an outlaw, carrying out his depredations without any sanction, but that of the Lord of Darkness, Satan himself."

"I see. So you had a Letter of Marque when you were raiding Dutch shipping?"

"Yes, Colonel. I did."

"Are you able to show this document to us?"

"Naturally!" Cumbrae reached into his sleeve and drew out a roll of parchment. He leaned down and handed it to Schreuder.

"Thank you." Schreuder unrolled it and held it up for all to see, heavy with scarlet ribbons and wax seals. He read aloud, "Know you by these presents that our dearly beloved Angus Cochran, Earl of "Cumbrae-" "Very well, Colonel," van de Velde interrupted testily. "No need to read us the whole thing. Let me have it here, if you please."

Schreuder bowed. "As your excellency pleases." He handed up the document. Van de Velde glanced at it then set it aside. "Please go on with your questions."

"My lord, did Courtney, the prisoner, also have one of these Letters of Marque?"