Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King.

Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails. A
tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was
with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the
governor entered.

"How now?" asked the King, with some show of energy; "To what are we
indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? Were you not told, Sir
George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?"

"Faith I was, Sir," answered Carteret, with a seaman's bluntness. "But,
under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I
know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one
that ought to be debated in my absence."

Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and _ennui_. But
the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the
last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than
in the present instance.

"If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty's
service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands. But
your Majesty knows that there is not. I am here to claim that the
message from the Queen be laid before the States. We are your Majesty's
to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is
required."

Charles gave way before a will far stronger and a principle far higher
than his own.