Those grovelling, trodden, whipt, stript, turncoat things,
Made up of volumes, venom, stains, and stings,—
may now brand each other as liars, cowards, and ruffians, with perfect impunity. Do you understand me, sir?"
"Not quite."
"How so? I speak plain enough!"
"Such fellows are—aw—out of my way."
"Then you will understand this, sir," said Studhome, grasping him fiercely by the shoulder, and with an expression in his eye which made even the insouciance of Berkeley to evaporate, "a few weeks must see us in the Levant, on the shores of Turkey, and before the enemy. A duel shall come off there, and to evade alike the laws of Britain and the rules of the service, the seconds shall bind themselves by a solemn promise to declare that he who may be wounded, or he who may be killed, was struck by a chance shot from the enemy. You comprehend this arrangement, sir?"
"Perfectly."
"And your friend—who is he to be?"
"Captain Scriven, of ours."
"Good—I shall see him instantly."