'No,' said Hornblower.
England was far easier to reach from here than from the French Biscay coast; as for the other suggestion, Hornblower knew enough about the new government washed up by the revolution in France to be sure that they would never part with prisoners on the representation of a merchant captain. And trained seamen were scarce in France, it was his duty to keep these dozen from returning.
'No,' he said again, in reply to the captain's fresh protests.
'Shall I clout 'im on the jaw, sir?' asked Hunter, at Hornblower's side.
'No,' said Hornblower again; but the Frenchman saw the gesture and guessed at the meaning of the words, and subsided into sullen silence.
But he was roused again at the sight of Hornblower's pistol on his knee, still pointed at him. A sleepy finger might press that trigger.
'Sir,' he said, 'put that pistol away, I beg of you. It is dangerous.'
Hornblower's eye was cold and unsympathetic.
'Put it away, please. I will do nothing to interfere with your command of this boat. I promise you that.'
'Do you swear it?'