"
Ralegh took counsel on the matter with Captain King, a bluff,
tawny-bearded seaman, who was devoted to him body and soul.
"Sir Lewis proposes it, eh?" quoth the hardy seaman. "And Sir
Lewis is Vice-Admiral of Devon? He is not by chance bidden to
escort you to London?"
The Captain, clearly, had escaped the spell of Stukeley's
affability. Sir Walter was indignant. He had never held his
kinsman in great esteem, and had never been on the best of terms
with him in the past. Nevertheless, he was very far from
suspecting him of what King implied. To convince him that he did
Sir Lewis an injustice, Ralegh put the blunt question to his
kinsman in King's presence.
"Nay," said Sir Lewis, "I am not yet bidden to escort you. But as
Vice-Admiral of Devon I may at any moment be so bidden. It were
wiser, I hold, not to await such an order. Though even if it
come," he made haste to add, "you may still count upon my
friendship. I am your kinsman first, and Vice-Admiral after."
With a smile that irradiated his handsome, virile countenance,
Sir Walter held out his hand to clasp his cousin's in token of
appreciation. Captain King expressed no opinion save what might
be conveyed in a grunt and a shrug.
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