Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/25

Rh the shooting down of one's fellow-men I do hold one of the greatest villainies of all."

"When 'tis done by smugglers and plunderers of wrecks, no doubt you mean," retorted the lieutenant tartly.

"Plunderers of wrecks we have none in these parts, or at least none that do the vile things that were done in times past," said she quickly. "And if you and the soldiers that are come to Rye had had but the punishment of murderers and wreckers in your eye, you would have met with more sympathy than is like to be the case if you mean to repress what they call in these parts free-trade."

"Well, madam, 'tis in truth the repression of 'free-trade' that we have in our minds, and that we intend to carry out by the strength of our arms. And I own I'm amazed to hear a gentlewoman of your sense and spirit speak so leniently of a pack of thievish persons that live by robbing his Majesty, and, indeed, the whole nation to which they belong. I can but trust you speak in more ignorance than you imagine, and that the doings of such ruffians as one Jem Bax, and another wretch called Gardener Tom, of Long Jack and Bill Plunder,