The duc de Sagosta leapt to his feet as Bones came up the verandah.
"Hullo, Conk!" he yelled hilariously.
Bones stared.
"God bless my life," he stammered, "it's Mug!"
There was a terrific hand-shaking accompanied by squawking inquiries which were never answered, uproarious laughter, back patting, brazen and baseless charges that each was growing fat, and Sanders watched it with great kindness.
"Here's old Ham," said Bones, "you ought to know Ham—Captain Hamilton, sir, my friend, the duke of something or other—but you can call him Mug—Miss Hamilton—this is Mug."
"We've already been introduced," she laughed. "But why do you let him call you Mug?"
The duc grinned.
"I like Mug," he said simply.
He was to stay to lunch, for the ship was not leaving until the afternoon, and Bones carried him off to his hut.