"Yes."
He looked shyly about him, and cast a furtive glance at the ladies before he ventured to speak out.
"I want to break it to your honour as gently as possible, and I want to know what your honour thinks of me?"
Old Jack stared.
"Why, really, Joe—"
"I think Joe wants to know if you think he's handsome," suggested Dick Harvey.
"Do you admire the cut of his figurehead?" chimed in young Jack.
But Joe Basalt was evidently too much upset and preoccupied by something on his mind to heed this chaff.
"No, your honour," he said, fiercely, "what I want to know is—do you consider me a d—d mutineering swab?"
"Joe, Joe," exclaimed Harkaway, laughing in spite of himself, "moderate your language; remember that there are ladies present."