"Shall we put him under oath?" asked Cleopatra.

"As you please, ladies," said the pirate. "A pirate's word is as good as
his bond; but I'll take an oath if you choose--a half-dozen of 'em, if
need be."

"I fancy we can get along without that," said Portia. "Now, Captain Kidd,
who first proposed this plan?"

"Socrates," said Kidd, unblushingly, with a sly glance at Xanthippe.

"What?" cried Xanthippe. "My husband propose anything that would
contribute to my pleasure or intellectual advancement? Bah! Your story is
transparently false at the outset."

"Nevertheless," said Kidd, "the scheme was proposed by Socrates. He said a
trip of that kind for Xanthippe would be very restful and health-giving."

"For me?" cried Xanthippe, sceptically.

"No, madame, for him," retorted Kidd.

"Ah--ho-ho! That's the way of it, eh?" said Xanthippe, flushing to the
roots of her hair. "Very likely. You--ah--you will excuse my doubting your
word, Captain Kidd, a moment since. I withdraw my remark, and in order to
make fullest reparation, I beg to assure these ladies that I am now
perfectly convinced that you are telling the truth. That last observation
is just like my husband, and when I get back home again, if I ever do,
well--ha, ha!--we'll have a merry time, that's all."