"A thousand pardons, your Excellency!"
"A thousand pounds, sir!"
"Hey?"
"If that's not the very pair of scoundrels I've been hunting the length and breadth of Hampshire. Fareham was the venue, Captain Suckling—if I am addressing Captain Suckling—"
"You are, sir. I—I think you said Fareham—"
"I did, sir. I don't mind confessing to you—here on the point of departing from England—that I admire the noble art, sir: so much so that I have wasted a whole day in the neighbourhood of Fareham, hunting for a prize-fight which never came off."
"But—but I don't mind confessing to your Excellency," gasped Captain Suckling, "that I too have been at Fareham and have—er—met with the same disappointment."
"Disappointment, sir! When you have kidnapped the scoundrels—when you have them on board at this moment!" Sir John pointing a shaking forefinger again at the pressed men.
Captain Suckling stared in the direction where the finger pointed. "You don't mean to tell me—" he began weakly, addressing the first lieutenant.
"Mr. Fraser brought them aboard, sir," said the first lieutenant.