style. So it was a fine, heavy chair with carved arms that McLonarch had chosen, and which he occupied like a throne, while gazing down his nose at John Silver.
"Pah!" said Silver.
But McLonarch, the consummate politician, having pumped Allardyce beforehand for knowledge of Silver, smiled at him.
"Captain," he said, "I hear that you were a decent man before you were forced into piracy."
"Maybe," said Silver, frowning.
"And even now," continued McLonarch, "you are renowned as a man of honour, and a beloved leader whom men trust. And one who permits no cruelty to prisoners…" He paused and had the satisfaction of seeing Silver blush. Nodding in emphasis, he continued: "Thus you are still - even now - a decent man."
"Huh!" said Silver, but such was the power of McLonarch's personality, and the aura of aristocracy that hung about him, that Silver had the feeling that he'd just heard the definitive, official pronouncement upon himself, as if a judge in court had spoken.
"Captain Silver," said McLonarch, "what I offer you is my master's royal pardon, together with such pension as shall enable you to become again the honest mariner that you once were, washed clean of all past offences, of whatsoever kind or description."
There was silence. The words were magical, mystical. They were a dream. Silver thought of Selena. He thought of the normal life she wanted, and he was drawn into McLonarch's web, and dared to believe. But then he frowned.
"What about my lads?" he said. "Them what chose me, under articles."
McLonarch beamed.
"God bless you, John Silver!" he said. "Had I entertained the least doubt, it would now be gone. Only such a man as I believed you to be would think first of the men he leads, and it is my pleasure to assure you that the same free pardon shall extend to them."
"See, Cap'n?" said Allardyce. "Didn't I tell you?"
"There could even be more…" said McLonarch.
"Oh?" said Silver.
"Are you a Catholic?"
Silver shrugged. "I was raised that way, my father being a Portugee."
McLonarch nodded.
"Then know that I am empowered by the Holy Father to reward those who assist my sacred mission." He paused as one does who makes a mighty offer. "I am empowered to grant the rank and dignity of the Order of the Golden Spur!"
"A papal knighthood?" said Silver, and twisted under deep emotions. But he looked McLonarch in the eye. "See here," he said, "Bonnie Prince Charlie's shut up in Italy. He had his chance at Culloden, and got beat!" He shook his head. "Give up, milord. Your cause is lost!"
"Lost?" said McLonarch. "Give up? Did Charles II give up when exiled to Holland with the world saying Cromwell had won? No! He kept faith for eleven years in exile… yet returned in triumph, with the cathedral bells pealing, the great guns sounding, and the people rejoicing in the streets!"
It was true. Silver was impressed. But he was cautious too, because maybe this wasn't the only bargain in the market?
"Pretty words, milord," he said. "But just for the moment I'm sending you back among the others. I'll spare you the irons, but I'm done talking."
"Well enough, Captain," said McLonarch, satisfied for the moment.
The prisoner went off with Allardyce bowing and scraping behind him, leaving Silver alone with his thoughts, but it wasn't long before Allardyce came clumping back with men behind him. They burst in without knocking. They were looking for trouble.
"What's this?" said Silver. Allardyce looked behind him for support.
"Go on!" they growled.
"Cap'n!" said Allardyce. "We must take Himself safe aboard Walrus!"
"Oh? And is it yourself giving orders now, Mr Allardyce?"
"Tell him!" said the rest.
"We must save him," cried Allardyce, "for he's the McLonarch!"
"Oh, stow it!"
"Pah!" said Silver.
But McLonarch, the consummate politician, having pumped Allardyce beforehand for knowledge of Silver, smiled at him.
"Captain," he said, "I hear that you were a decent man before you were forced into piracy."
"Maybe," said Silver, frowning.
"And even now," continued McLonarch, "you are renowned as a man of honour, and a beloved leader whom men trust. And one who permits no cruelty to prisoners…" He paused and had the satisfaction of seeing Silver blush. Nodding in emphasis, he continued: "Thus you are still - even now - a decent man."
"Huh!" said Silver, but such was the power of McLonarch's personality, and the aura of aristocracy that hung about him, that Silver had the feeling that he'd just heard the definitive, official pronouncement upon himself, as if a judge in court had spoken.
"Captain Silver," said McLonarch, "what I offer you is my master's royal pardon, together with such pension as shall enable you to become again the honest mariner that you once were, washed clean of all past offences, of whatsoever kind or description."
There was silence. The words were magical, mystical. They were a dream. Silver thought of Selena. He thought of the normal life she wanted, and he was drawn into McLonarch's web, and dared to believe. But then he frowned.
"What about my lads?" he said. "Them what chose me, under articles."
McLonarch beamed.
"God bless you, John Silver!" he said. "Had I entertained the least doubt, it would now be gone. Only such a man as I believed you to be would think first of the men he leads, and it is my pleasure to assure you that the same free pardon shall extend to them."
"See, Cap'n?" said Allardyce. "Didn't I tell you?"
"There could even be more…" said McLonarch.
"Oh?" said Silver.
"Are you a Catholic?"
Silver shrugged. "I was raised that way, my father being a Portugee."
McLonarch nodded.
"Then know that I am empowered by the Holy Father to reward those who assist my sacred mission." He paused as one does who makes a mighty offer. "I am empowered to grant the rank and dignity of the Order of the Golden Spur!"
"A papal knighthood?" said Silver, and twisted under deep emotions. But he looked McLonarch in the eye. "See here," he said, "Bonnie Prince Charlie's shut up in Italy. He had his chance at Culloden, and got beat!" He shook his head. "Give up, milord. Your cause is lost!"
"Lost?" said McLonarch. "Give up? Did Charles II give up when exiled to Holland with the world saying Cromwell had won? No! He kept faith for eleven years in exile… yet returned in triumph, with the cathedral bells pealing, the great guns sounding, and the people rejoicing in the streets!"
It was true. Silver was impressed. But he was cautious too, because maybe this wasn't the only bargain in the market?
"Pretty words, milord," he said. "But just for the moment I'm sending you back among the others. I'll spare you the irons, but I'm done talking."
"Well enough, Captain," said McLonarch, satisfied for the moment.
The prisoner went off with Allardyce bowing and scraping behind him, leaving Silver alone with his thoughts, but it wasn't long before Allardyce came clumping back with men behind him. They burst in without knocking. They were looking for trouble.
"What's this?" said Silver. Allardyce looked behind him for support.
"Go on!" they growled.
"Cap'n!" said Allardyce. "We must take Himself safe aboard Walrus!"
"Oh? And is it yourself giving orders now, Mr Allardyce?"
"Tell him!" said the rest.
"We must save him," cried Allardyce, "for he's the McLonarch!"
"Oh, stow it!"
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