"I hope I see you well, sir," he said, "and none the worse for my stupidity."
"In excellent health, I thank you. My nose, as you see, stands where it did. Yet I am much reduced from my usual level humour by this sight."
"A dreary spectacle enough."
"You are probably unfamiliar with Cowper? It is your loss.
"'War's a game which, were their subjects wise,
Kings should not play at."
Neither kings nor yet Congresses. Perhaps, had you read Cowper, you would have stopped at home, Mr. Stark?"
"It takes two to fight, Mr. Norcot. My kinsman, General Stark—but I'll not prate of that, though this I'll say: 'tis a base and a cowardly deed to deny parole to Commodore Miller and his officers. We handled the frigate Marblehead like honest men; and we had fairly beaten your Thunderbolt. She was about to strike when the Flying Fish and the Squirrel hove in sight and bore down. Then she fought on. We ourselves had hardly struck to them before the Thunderbolt sank. These things I learned from the prize crew that brought the Marblehead into Falmouth."
"I understand that there were technical reasons why parole was denied to the officers of the Marblehead," explained Captain Cottrell.
"You may understand, sir," retorted Stark, "but none among us was ever made to do so."
Norcot nodded thoughtfully. True to his invariable custom, he set himself the task of making a friend.