“Yes, sir; German, sir.”
“German or English,” said Donovan, “it’s the same thing. This is a neutral State and we haven’t got any quarrel with either party.”
“Yes, sir,” said Smith. “Quite so, sir. But, I beg your pardon. She’s German.”
Donovan thought this over for a minute.
“I appreciate your feelings, Smith,” he said, “and I don’t deny that your situation might be an awkward one if this wasn’t a neutral State. But you’re in the service of the Crown of Salissa now, and I reckon that any attempt to inflict punishment on you would be contrary to international law.”
“I’m sure you know best, sir.”
“That’s as good as to say that your interpretation of international law is superior to mine. It may be. But the matter will have to come before the superior courts before anything’s settled.”
“It’s not that, sir,” said Smith. “I’m not afraid of the law.”
“Oh,” said Donovan, “you’re inclined to think that the German captain may trample on the law?”
“Seeing as how you’ve no guns, sir, he might.”