"And what was--ah--Bassanio's connection with this affair?" added Portia,
hesitatingly.

"He was not informed of it," said Kidd, archly. "I am not acquainted with
Bassanio, my lady, but I overheard Sir Walter enjoining upon the others
the absolute necessity of keeping the whole affair from Bassanio, because
he was afraid he would not consent to it. 'Bassanio has a most beautiful
wife, gentlemen,' said Sir Walter, 'and he wouldn't think of parting with
her under any circumstances; therefore let us keep our intentions a secret
from him.' I did not hear whom the gentleman married, madame; but the
others, Prince Hamlet, the Duke of Buckingham, and Louis the Fourteenth,
all agreed that Mrs. Bassanio was too beautiful a person to be separated
from, and that it was better, therefore, to keep Bassanio in the dark as
to their little enterprise until it was too late for him to interfere."

A pink glow of pleasure suffused the lovely countenance of the
cross-examiner, and it did not require a very sharp eye to see that the
wily Kidd had completely won her over to his side. On the other hand,
Elizabeth's brow became as corrugated as her ruff, and the spirit of the
pirate shivered to the core as he turned and gazed upon that glowering
face.

"Sir Walter agreed to that, did he?" snapped Elizabeth. "And yet he was
willing to part with--ah--his sister."

"Well, your Majesty," began Kidd, hesitatingly, "you see it was this way:
Sir Walter--er--did say that, but--ah--he--ah--but he added that he of
course merely judged--er--this man Bassanio's feelings by his own in
parting from his sister--"