For as, laughing still, Levasseur swung to his officers, he saw that which choked the laughter in his throat.

Captain Blood had shrewdly played upon the cupidity that was the paramount inspiration of those adventurers.

And Levasseur now read clearly on their faces how completely they adopted Captain Blood's suggestion that all must participate in the ransom which their leader had thought to appropriate to himself.
It gave the gaudy ruffian pause, and whilst in his heart he cursed those followers of his, who could be faithful only to their greed, he perceived--and only just in time--that he had best tread warily.
"You misunderstand," he said, swallowing his rage.

"The ransom is for division, when it comes.

The girl, meanwhile, is mine on that understanding." "Good!" grunted Cahusac.