Читать книгу Superstition Corner онлайн

13 страница из 47

They all laughed, except Catherine. She did not believe that the Pope had sailed with the Armada, but she could not prove it to anyone. Maria Douce looked at her unkindly and whispered something in her sweetheart's ear.

"Hush, child," he answered and led her away.

§ IV

Catherine looked after them.

"She's an uncommon pretty piece," she said, her voice lagging, as if heavy with a thought beyond her words.

"Aye, and she brings a fortune. Her father 'ull give her five hundred pounds."

"Then it an't true, this tale he tells of being ruined by the Catholics in France?"

"Reckon 'tis true enough, but he hath prospered in our country, like most of his kind. He's master of the Furnace at Panyngridge, and 'tis said he hath gotten bags of gold out of Sir Philip Sidney."

"And most like he'll get more out of my father."

"Most like. They can ask anything, I believe, these Frenchmen, for teaching their ways to the ironmasters. I know little about iron, but I understand that the French have a new way of smelting it, and a man who can teach that is paid all he asks."