“That will do, Strake.”
The bo’sun touched his forehead, and backed out of the cabin.
“So soon!” muttered Captain Belton; and, taking his hat, he went on deck to encounter the first lieutenant directly.
“I find that my son has been fighting in the midshipmen’s mess, Mr Bracy,” he said. “Please bear in mind that he is Mr Belton, a midshipman in his Majesty’s service, and that I wish that no favour should be shown to him on account of his being nearly related to me.”
“Trust me for that, Captain Belton,” said the lieutenant. “If I made any exception at all, it would be to bear a little more severely upon him.”
“And in this case?”
“Well, sir, in this case, from what I understand, he has incapacitated our senior midshipman for duty.”
“I am sorry,” said the captain.
“I am glad,” said the first lieutenant.
“Eh?”