"You may spare me any further details, my Lord. I know them too well. He became a marshal of France and my father."
"Two great honors, surely," said the admiral, smiling pleasantly.
"I thank your Lordship for the compliment; pray proceed."
"I have here, also, a brief account of the history of another gentleman in whom I doubt not you are deeply interested."
"And that is--"
"One Barry O'Neill, Marquis de Richemont."
"Your very humble servant, sir."
"Your discrimination does you honor, marquis," said the admiral, playfully.
"Faith, sir, you read me an easy riddle."
"I find that you have been concerned in every treasonable plot against his Majesty which has been hatched on the continent since you were out of leading strings."