“So long, my boy, that I was thinking of sending the boat to fetch you, for fear you should be converted into a Frenchman. Hang them all! How I do hate them and their nasty, smooth, polished ways!”
“Oh, uncle, you don’t!” cried the boy indignantly. “I do, sir. How dare you contradict me! And I won’t have you getting too fond of that French boy. He and his father set me thinking about old Bony, and as soon as I begin thinking about Bony I have a nasty taste in my mouth.—Well, how did you get on?”
“I had a most delightful afternoon, uncle. Young Morny—let’s see, he’s Viscount Morny—”
“Viscount grandmother!” snapped out the doctor. “Anybody can be a viscount in France if he’s got an income of a few hundred francs—francs in France of common silver. They rank with golden guineas in your grand old home.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know, uncle I only know that he’s the nicest fellow I ever met.”
“Gush!” cried the doctor. “I won’t have it, Rodd. I won’t have you making too much of these French people. I don’t like them.”
“But you don’t know them, uncle. Both the Count and his son are the most gentlemanly men I ever met.”
“The most gentlemanly men you ever met!” cried Uncle Paul mockingly. “Nice puppy you are to set yourself up for a judge! Very gentlemanly, to come in the dark with two boat-loads of savage-looking buccaneers to seize our schooner! And they would, too, if it hadn’t been for Captain Chubb’s courage.”
“Oh, uncle, don’t be unreasonable. The poor fellows were desperate. Suppose you had been in such a position as they were.”
“I am not going to suppose anything of the sort, sir,” cried the doctor indignantly; “and look here, Rodney, I will not have you setting up your feathers like the miserable young cockerel you are, and beginning to crow at me, just as if you were full grown. It’s growing unbearable, Rodney, and I won’t have it, sir. I am very much displeased with you, and you had better be off to your bunk at once before we come to an open quarrel. It is too much, sir, and if your poor mother were alive and could hear you talking like this she’d—she’d—she’d—there, I don’t know what she wouldn’t say.”