Rafael Sabatini

“ But the voice had dropped again, and he could not listen without making it obvious that he did so, until the speaker's tones soared once more.
"These ardent young gentlemen are well enough, and do themselves great credit by their eagerness, but in war . . ."
Discreetly, to the Colonel's vexation, the gentleman again lowered his voice. He was inaudibly answered by his companion, and it was some time before Holles heard another word of what passed between them. By then the conversation had veered a point.
". . . and there the talk was all of the Dutch . . . that the fleet is out." ”

“ His Flemish beaver worn at a damn-me cock, his long sword thrust up behind by the hand that rested upon the pummel, his useless spurs—which a pot-boy at the Paul's Head had scoured to a silvery brightness—providing martial music to his progress. A certain grimness that invested him made the wayfarers careful not to jostle him. In that throng of busy, peaceful citizens he was like a wolf loping across a field of sheep ”

“ Scraps of that conversation floated presently to the Colonel's ears.
". . . and I tell you, Sir George, that his grace is mightily off the hooks at all this delay That is why he hurried away to Portsmouth, that by his own presence he might order things . . ." The pleasant voice grew inaudible to rise again presently. "The need is all for officers, men trained in war . ”

“ The swarthy, sturdy gentleman cast off the remains of his laughter, and put on a countenance of gravity.
"I come," he said. "Sir George, you'll bear me company." His tone blended invitation and assertion. His tall companion bowed, and together they went off, and passed into the Duke's room.
Colonel Holles leaned back against the wainscoting, marvelling that with war upon them—to say nothing of the menace of the plague—the Town should be concerned with the affairs of a playhouse wanton; and that here, in the very temple of Bellona, Mr. ”