"Desire Mr. Dark to be good enough to step this way," he called to the sentry outside, and shut the door again.
"Mr. Dark is my Gunner and the officer against whom you bring your charge—a charge of such a nature as never, never in all the years of my service, have I known one officer to bring against another."
He was pacing rapidly up and down the cabin, his stump flapping.
"I have tried to serve you, sir," said Kit in twilight voice, and said no more.
His face was a thought paler than before; his eyes a shade darker. He was bracing himself for a last fight.
Something about the boy, his twilight voice, his pallor, those dark and hunted eyes, struck Nelson.
He stopped his pacing.
"You've nothing to fear, Mr. Carvell," he said less sternly—"if your story prove true."
"It is true, my lord," replied the boy steadfastly.
"God forbid," shuddered the great seaman, and resumed his walk.