"I knew you with it on," he said savagely. "It became you. Why should a deserter wear the clothes of a gentleman?"
I laughed at him, but Murray intervened quickly.
"What do you mean?" he demanded.
De Veulle made a gesture of disgust in my direction.
"This person, who was in the immediate entourage of the Pretender, abandoned his leader not long ago and fled to England to seek a pardon, repudiated and detested by all honorable men in Paris. But in England his protestations of loyalty were refused, for they naturally doubted the sincerity of one who wearied so soon of an unfortunate cause."
"Is this true?" Murray asked me.
"Within reason," I said.
Murray stared from one to the other of us. Plainly he was whimsically amused by our altercation.
"Stap me, but I rejoice to see that we may look forward to an entertaining voyage!" he exclaimed. "I had feared 'twould be most tedious. Are you seeking satisfaction from the gentleman, chevalier?"
"I shall fight him when I choose, on ground of my own choosing," replied de Veulle curtly.