"You respect yourself, and of course you respect the man that pounded Hasbrook," he added.
"Do you mean to say I flogged Hasbrook?" demanded the strange man, doubling his fist, and shaking it savagely in Laud's face.
"It isn't for me to say that you did, for you know better than I do; but you will pardon me if I say that the evidence points in this direction. Hasbrook has been over to Belfast several times to work up his case. The last time I saw him he was looking for Don John, who, I am afraid, is rather leaky."
In spite of his bluff manners, Laud saw that the captain was not a little startled by the information just imparted.
"The miserable little psalm-singer," growled the strange man, walking the room, muttering to himself. "If he disobeys my orders, I'll thrash him worse than—Hasbrook was thrashed."
"It is unpleasant to be suspected of a crime, and revolting to the instincts of a gentleman," added Laud.
"Do you mean to say that I am suspected of a crime, you long-eared puppy?" yelled the captain.
"I beg your pardon, Captain Shivernock, but it isn't agreeable to a gentleman to be called by such opprobrious names," said Laud, rising from his chair, and taking his round-top hat from the table. "I am willing to leave you, but not to be insulted."
Laud looked like the very impersonation of dignity itself, as he walked towards the door.
"Stop!" yelled the captain.