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since the attempted placement of the last door, which his servants accidentally dropped on top of him, cracking it and rendering it completely damaged beyond repair.
    Mr. Darcy was so impressed and proud of his door. “It’s solid English Oak,” he boasted to Black-Hearted. “She was made with two hundred year old wood and carved by the gypsies. She arrived just yesterday. Isn’t it the grandest sight you’d ever laid your eyes upon, Hearted?”
    “Well, maybe not the grandest. But she is big.”
    “Aye, there’re few things more pleasing to the eye. But just look at her, she’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
    “Sure, Darcy,” stated Black-Hearted dolefully, “it’s grand.”
    Just then Scurvy wandered up to them as they spoke. “I thought you might be here,” he stated, speaking to Black-Hearted. “I seen Saint Drake anchored beyond the reef.”
    “No longer is she known as Saint Drake. I be captain now and she’s called Roger’s Jolly .”
    “Roger’s Jolly? So, you’ve done it then. You’ve taken her over as I expected you might.”
    “Fancy my new door, Scurvy?” interjected Mr. Darcy. “It was carved by the gypsies. Two hundred years old, she be.”
    “Carved by the gypsies, you say?” Black-Hearted chided. “I’m willing to bet it’s not even oak.”
    Fishing for any amount of praise, Darcy insisted, “Well it looks respectable, does it not? That’s what’s important.”
    “Aye Darcy, sure it does. If there’s one thing about your place, you sure picked a fine plot of land,” affirmed Scurvy. “When I die, I want to be buried in a good spot out back.”
    “Darcy, never mind the door,” demanded Black-Hearted. “I’m in need of your help. As you know, I lost everything I owned and everyone that meant anything to me in one day to the English swine. I’ve lived over half my life with vengeance in my heart and now with a crew of my own I mean to claim my revenge.”
    “So, what will have me do?” questioned Mr. Darcy.
    “I plan to take me an English frigate and make use of it.”
    “A sloop against a frigate?” asked Mr. Darcy. “Are you completely out of your mind? It’s like David and Goliath, only in this story, David is the fool and cannot possibly win. A frigate is four times the size of your vessel. One broadside and you’re sunk. You along with all of your men will be slaughtered.”
    “If you’re going to slay the giant,” added Scurvy, "you’d better have one hell of a sling.”
    “My plan calls for enemies fit for a King and I plan on making Spain such an enemy. Don’t underestimate me. I know what I am doing.”
    “I can see what you’re attempting to do,” replied Darcy. “But this is not some insignificant little skirmish that you are used to. This is engineering war on a large scale.”
    “That is my hope. With Spain will come France and others are sure to follow. Now, if you know what I am planning, you know what I need. But we can’t afford to rush it through.”
    “Alright, Hearted, I’ll help where I can. But, be mindful for my sake, if you associate me in any way with your foolish plight, I might as well be dead already. I don’t need to get too involved with such affairs! It’s bad for business.”
    Scurvy also agreed to be of assistance, informing Black-Hearted that he had looted a small vessel over the past week and would deliver his percentage that night, knowing it would help to finance his risky excursion. Straightway excusing himself, Scurvy departed Mr. Darcy’s residence, leaving Black-Hearted to discuss Mr. Darcy’s role in more depth.
    At the conclusion of their meeting, Mr. Darcy nodded his oversized head in agreement. “Now get out of here before I change my mind,” he jested. “I don’t know why I agree to such foolish nonsense. One day you are going to get me killed and I think you know this.”
     
     
    Years earlier, following the disaster at the De Paul estate, it had come to light through an official investigation that