The latter, feeling himself encouraged, went on—
"Will you allow me to give you a bit of advice, Captain?"
"What is it, my lad? Speak without fear."
"As for fear, deuce take me if I feel that, but I should not like to pain you."
"Pain me, about what?"
"Well, all the worse, I must out with it. When you mentioned your name, Captain, to the old Duke—"
"Well, what happened?"
"On hearing it pronounced, he suddenly turned as pale as a corpse; he frowned upon you so terrible a look that I fancied for a moment that he wished to assassinate you; don't you consider that funny, Captain?"
"What you say is impossible; you are mistaken."
"You did not notice it, because you had your head down, but I was looking at him without seeming to do so, and am quite certain about what I say."