The Black Swan Page #3

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"renew our pledge of fealty

to his most gracious...

"Majesty King Charles II...

"through the person of his appointed

representative...

"His Excellency, the governor of

Jamaica, Sir Henry Morgan."

"Almighty and everlasting God...

"creator and governor

of all the world...

"by whom kings do bear rule...

"and under whose providence they

are wonderfully...

"and mightily...

"often times protected from

many fearful dangers...

"by which the malice of Satan

and his...

"imps do seek to entrap them.

"We give unto thy heavenly

majesty most...

"humble and hearty thanks.

"For that it hath pleased

thee of thine infinite...

"mercy and goodness in Jesus

Christ...

"so wonderfully to uphold"...

Whew. That was the longest, dullest

ceremony I ever heard.

I don't blame you for walking out.

You can lower your pistols,

Lady Margaret.

Unfortunately, I have no pistols.

Your eyes I've looked into pistol

barrels that are kinder.

- Get out of my way.

- Please, do me a favor and...

don't make me angry.

I'm trying my hardest to behave

like a gentleman.

- A gentleman?

- Well, perhaps not entirely.

I only meant that my new character

keeps me from seizing women...

and hugging and squeezing

them into submission.

Instead, I... I woo them

with politeness...

and with gifts.

Here.

Where did you get this?

I found it in your bed.

- You have my room?

- Yes.

And you haunt it sweetly each night.

Not an evening passes

but I find some...

new and fascinating souvenir of you...

a stocking, a garter, a bit of lace.

In Tortuga, when a woman

slaps a man's face...

it means she wants him to grab her...

overpower her and smother

her with kisses.

I understand in Jamaica

a gentleman must refuse such

overtures.

- Out of my way.

- You're much too angry for...

public appearance.

Give me your arm. A turn around

the garden will cool you off.

I promise not to kiss you unless

you ask for it like a lady.

Roger. Roger.

Oh. The idiot whose face I took

the liberty of removing...

from your locket.

Darling, I've been hunting

everywhere for you.

Take me home, please.

- Has this fellow been insulting you?

- Yes.

Oh, the hero to the rescue.

It's time one of you lackeys

was taught a lesson.

No, I'm under oath as a gentleman

not to kill any tame rabbits.

- I'll have you for that.

- Leave the coward alone, Roger.

No, I'm going to make

an example of him.

I'll run him through as

a common thief.

Oath or no oath, you'll

have to learn...

not to offend your betters, Ingram.

Now, tell me, what the devil

do you see in this weasel?

Oh, darling are you hurt?

I'm sorry. It was all my fault.

If you're in love with him, you're

too big a fool for a...

man like me.

You black-hearted bully.

What do you know about men or

women or anything human?

All you can do is shoot and kill

and prey on women...

with your beastly senses slobbering

at the sight of anything fine.

I repeat, my lass, you'll

have to choose...

between us and very soon too.

There you are, my beauty.

Seeing is believing.

Made for a queen, it was.

And easy to accommodate five...

if you'll sleep them crosswise.

Come on. Get that albatross

out of here.

Now, hold your fire, Jamie-Boy.

I promised her she could

spend the night...

in the governor's daughter's bed.

Get back to your trough,

both of you.

I never thought I'd live to see

Jamie Waring play the snob.

- Get out.

- Why, Jamie...

It's a heart of stone you got!

Jamie, open the door!

She's crying her head off.

Jamie, she's crying like a baby.

Massa, does you want to

put your head on this?

- What's that?

- It's a pillow, massa.

Lady Margaret's own little pillow.

She always sleeps on it.

Then take it out and burn it up.

- Yes, massa.

- Wait a minute.

Never mind.

- That's all.

- Yes, massa.

Sweet dreams, massa.

- Good morning, milady.

- You're trespassing here.

This is my land.

I set my mind on having a friendly

little talk with you this morning.

Are you all right?

Why didn't you fall on the horse

instead of letting the...

horse fall on you?

You'd think anybody's have

sense enough for that.

- Let me down.

- Well, good morning.

You've put on a little weight, as I

remember.

Put me down!

- Think you can stand?

- Yes. I'm quite all right.

Easy now. You'll only

start a convulsion.

There's a cozy little spot.

There you are.

Oh! Oh, you see?

You're scuttled fore and aft.

I think I'll have to put you to bed.

What?

I suggest that you lie

down for a spell.

Ah. There.

- You may go now.

- Oh, nonsense.

If the eyes fill with blood,

it's a sign...

the head's broken.

No, they're clear.

Although they seem a little

brighter than usual.

Don't touch me.

Now, my gal, I'm an expert

on broken heads.

I've seen thousands of them.

Couldn't have picked a better

doctor in all Jamaica.

Oh, a fine, hard skull.

Couldn't crack it with

a bung-starter.

Let's have a look at your ankle.

Go find my horse!

No gentleman would think of

leaving a lady at a...

moment like this.

Just lie still, please, and

behave yourself.

This oughta teach you to be

more sociable in the future.

No bones broken.

A muscle twisted.

- Does that hurt there?

- No.

Fetch me some water, please.

I feel faint.

You may have thrown your knee out.

I ought to investigate.

No! Go fetch me some water, please!

Well, that proves what

I've always said...

a woman's place is not on a horse.

There. Now, my gal, I suggest

that you stay like that...

until your color comes back.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to enjoy your society.

You seem much nicer

than I thought.

Really, it occurs to me

you probably have...

a mother somewhere...

a nice, gentle, old lady.

- No, she died when I was a baby.

- Possibly a sister?

No, no, no. No kith or kin.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Is that why you... I mean,

why you went to sea?

- Would you like to hear about me?

- Oh, of course I would.

Well, it's quite a story.

I haven't thought about it

for a long time...

but I'd like to tell it to you.

I was 14, living alone

in London, when...

the smell of the sea

got a hold of me.

I was apprenticed to

an old law firm.

You're sure I'm not boring you?

- Oh, no. Not at all.

- Well...

Roger. Roger!

I give you my word on this,

Captain Leech.

I'll get you news of every English

treasure ship that sails...

when it's leaving and the

port it's making for.

It's a pretty offer, Mr. Ingram.

The nicest, prettiest offer

I ever had...

if you ain't lying or setting

a trap for me.

Judge for yourself. The

Prince Consort is...

due at Port Royal in three days...

carrying English gold.

It'll layover first at Port Lobos

to disembark passengers.

Prince Consort, eh? How many guns?

Forty.

- No escort?

- None.

We've got two ships and

a hundred guns.

We could chop her into kindling.

What are you asking for this

tidy piece of news?

A captain's share.

You'll hand it over to

Mr. Fenner here.

When I receive it, he'll return to

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