Rafael Sabatini

“ For life to be worth living must be lived worthily, by which I mean it must signify the performance of the best that is in a man. And how shall you perform your best here in this England?"
"How?" Holles was aghast. "Afford me but the occasion, and I will show you. I have it in me still. I swear it. Test me, and you shall not be disappointed. I'll do you no discredit." He had risen in his excitement. He had even paled a little, and he stood now before the Duke, tense, challenging, a faint quiver in the sensitive nostrils of his fine nose.
Albemarle's phlegm was undisturbed by the vehemence. ”

“ It is not for a subject to question too narrowly the doings of his King, particularly when that King is a son concerned to avenge what he considers, rightly or wrongly, the murder of his father. I tell you all this solely that you may understand how, despite my ardent wish to help you, I dare not for your own sake help you in the way you desire, lest, by bringing you, directly or indirectly, under His Majesty's notice, I should expose you to that vengeance which is not allowed to slumber. ”

“ The name of Randal Holles is on the warrant for the execution of the late King. It would have provided a warrant for your father's own death had he lived long enough. Yourself you have borne arms for the Parliament against our present sovereign. In England it is only by living in the completest obscurity that you'll be allowed to live at all. ”

“ For a long moment they faced each other thus, Holles striving the while to keep the despair from his face. Then slowly the Colonel sank back into his chair. A moment he brooded, his eyes upon the polished floor, then, with a little sigh, a little shrug, a little upward throw of the hands, he reached for the hat that lay on the floor beside him.
"In that case . . ." He paused to swallow something that threatened to mar the steadiness of his voice ". . . it but remains for me to take my leave . . ."
"No, no." ”

“ James's Park, sat George Monk, K.G., Baron Monk of Potheridge, Beauchamp, and Tees, Earl of Torrington and Duke of Albemarle, Master of the Horse, Commander-in-Chief, a member of His Majesty's Privy Council, and a Gentleman of the Bedchamber.
It was a great deal for a man to be, and yet George Monk—called a trimmer by his enemies and "honest George" by the majority of Englishmen—might conceivably have been more. ”

“ For the last three months it has been impossible for an Englishman to show his face in the streets of The Hague without being subjected to insult. If he were so rash as to resent and punish it, he placed himself at the mercy of the authorities, which were never reluctant to make an example of him. ”

“ Whilst he was at Breda I concerted with him and with Clarendon that there should be four exceptions only from that bill. Yet when, after His Majesty's restoration, it was prepared, it left to Parliament such exceptions as Parliament should deem proper. I saw the intention. I pleaded; I argued; I urged the royal promise. Finally it was agreed that the exceptions should be increased to seven. Reluctantly I yielded, having no longer the power effectively to oppose a king de facto. ”

“ That is one reason. The other is that England is in danger, that she needs the sword of her every son, and in such a pass should be ready to afford me employment. You need officers, I learn—experienced officers . . ."
"That's true enough, God knows!" Albemarle interrupted him, on a note of bitterness. "My anteroom is thronged with young men of birth who come to me commended by the Duke of This and the Earl of That, and sometimes by His Majesty himself, for whom I am desired to provide commissions that will enable these graceful bawcocks to command their betters . ”

“ There's a mort o' them Indies, I know, whither officers are forever being dispatched. Who'd trouble about Randal's name or story in one o' they?"
"Egad! 'Tis an idea!" The Duke looked at Holles, his glance brightening. "What should you say to it, Randal?"
"Is there a post for me out there?" quoth the Colonel eagerly.
"At this very moment, no. But vacancies occur. Men die in those outlandish parts, or weary of the life, or find the climate intolerable and return. There are risks, of course, and . . ."
Holles cut in briskly. "I have said that I have lived on risks. ”

“ The Duke leaned across and set a restraining hand upon his visitor's arm. "We part not thus, Randal."
Holles looked at him, still inwardly struggling to keep his self-control. He smiled a little, that sad irresistible smile of his. "You, sir, are a man overweighted with affairs; the burden of a state at war is on your shoulders, I . ”