"Here are your rooms. They are not often occupied, but I think you will find them quite comfortable. At least you may count yourselves lucky to be in them instead of in the cells. But don't toy with any idea of escaping. You would only get lost in the forest, and we should be certain to catch you; then M. le Vicomte would have your toe-nails torn out, to prevent your running away again. I will send the slaves to you with your baggage. Ask them for anything you may require."
As she strolled away, with her usual feline grace, they looked about them. The rooms were sparsely furnished and the plaster was peeling from the walls; but they were lofty, light and airy, and each had a pair of french windows opening on to the veranda.
Within a few minutes two negroes appeared with their portmanteaux; then a smiling negress who filled all their jugs with water, shook a variety of insects out of the bed curtains, and brought bowls of fruit which she set down on the bedside tables. While she was busy with these chores they stood about discussing in low voices their recent interview; but they were longing to get out of their heavier garments, so as soon as she had gone they pulled them off, had a quick wash and, exhausted by the heat, flung themselves on the beds to rest.
Roger was roused from an uneasy doze by a knocking on his door. Propping himself up on one elbow he called "entrez" and a tall young man came in. He was a handsome, gaily dressed fellow, and his hair, which he wore long, was golden, but his features were slightly negroid, showing him to be a sangmele, as mulattoes having only a small proportion of black blood are termed.
With a bright toothed smile he said in lisping Creole-French: "M. le Vicomte is about to hold his seigneurial court. He requests the presence of yourself and your ladies." After a moment, he added: "My name is Jean Herault. My father is M. le Vicomte's bailiff and I assist him in running the estate. We are likely to see a lot of one another; so I hope we shall get upon good terms."
Scrambling off the bed Roger replied that he was happy to make Monsieur Herault's acquaintance, and would join M. le Vicomte as soon as possible. Then pulling on his clothes he went to rouse the others, and when all of them had dressed they walked through the main hall out on to the veranda.
The sun had already gone down behind the hills so the house was now in shadow; but a number of large, hanging lanterns had been lit along the veranda, and a trestle table carried out on to it. A paunchy, elderly man was arranging writing materials beside a ledger, at one end of the table, and nearby de Senlac stood talking to two of his pirates; a very thick-set dark-visaged sea-dog with at least five hundred pieces-of-eight forming a great collar of silver round his neck, and a taller fellow who had a great hook nose and diamond ear-drops dangling from his ears.
As the prisoners appeared the Vicomte introduced his companions as his two Lieutenants: the dark one as Philo the Greek and the other as Cyrano de la Mer, which was obviously a nom de guerre. He then presented the elderly man as his Bailiff, Hypolite Herault, and when they had made their bows he said:
"I will explain the proceedings that are about to take place. In a domain such as I have established here there are a great variety of duties, varying in their degree of hardship. Apart from our activities at sea, which are our main support, we have cane fields and tobacco plantations farther inland that must be cultivated. There is also the rearing and tending of our livestock, and the repairing and careening of our vessels.
"I own, of course, a number of permanent slaves, but after each voyage the conduct of my seamen during it is reviewed by me. Those who have shown initiative or special bravery are rewarded by periods of leave, so that they may go on the spree in our nearest ports. Others who have proved unsatisfactory are relegated to menial tasks, and those guilty of definite neglect of duty are sent for a time to labour with the slaves.
"When we take a prize, as on the present occasion, I have also to decide on the future of the captured crew. Fighting and sickness are a constant drain on our numbers; so good seamen who are willing to join us are welcomed as recruits. Those who show reluctance are enrolled among the slaves; while officers and others who might prove a focus for future trouble have to be disposed of. Our ways of disposing of them vary, but it is always by some method which will provide good sport for my men."
While he was speaking a motley crowd began to gather below the steps of the veranda. Twilight had now fallen, and as it swiftly deepened the full companies of the two ships assembled, including a score or more who were brought forward with their arms tied behind their backs. The majority of the captives were from the Circe, and among them Roger saw Tom, young Doctor Fergusson, the Second Mate, the Swedish purser, the consumptive Supercargo and Jake Harris, but with them were also four of the pirates who had formed part of the prize crew. Anxiously he searched among the rows of upturned faces for Dan's, but beyond the semi-circles of light cast by the lanterns it was now difficult to make out individual features. For some moments he feared that the ex-smuggler must have fallen a victim to the pirates, then he caught sight of him on the fringe of the crowd and his heart felt lighter than it had for days at the knowledge that his old friend was safe and free.
Dan's apparent treachery had not been mentioned since Roger had come-to after the taking of the Circe, and he had deliberately refrained from speaking of it to the others for his own good reasons. Fearing that the ship might be taken while they were still in her he had given Dan secret instructions that in such an event he was to go over to the enemy, with the idea that it would both save his life and, perhaps, later enable him to help them. To render such a step easier he had told Dan that, should all appear lost, he must bring himself to the enemy's notice by hauling down the Circe's flag. Dan had done so, and the trick had worked. Evidently, with a number of others, he had already been vetted by de Senlac and accepted as a useful member of the pirate fraternity.
The Vicomte now seated himself at the table between Philo the Greek and Cyrano de la Mer. while the elder Herault took one end of it and the younger the other. Georgina sat down in one of the basket chairs nearby, her companions followed her example and, as they did so, a brawny, bald-headed man came out of the crowd to the foot of the steps. Calling up a succession of men before the tribunal he praised some and blamed others. Most of them remained silent but certain of those accused of faults endeavoured to defend themselves, and at these he bellowed a stream of filthy abuse culled from a dozen tongues.
Apparently de Senlac was already well informed on the cases brought before him, as he dealt with all of them swiftly, only on two occasions troubling to consult with his lieutenants; and in several he gave his verdict in less than a minute. Within half an hour the bald man had come to the end of his list and Lucette took his place.
She opened her part of the proceedings by describing how Pedro and Bloggs had conspired to make off with the Circe, and how she had tricked and murdered both in turn. It transpired that once Pedro, was out of the way she had been able to release the members of the prize-crew who had shown reluctance to join him, and later been arrested on suspicion; then with their aid won back some of their companions and some of the Circe's mutineers. She had undertaken to strangle Bloggs during the night, while the others either killed or overcame the men who they felt would remain loyal to Bloggs; and between them in the morning they had brought the ship safely into harbour.