"Oh, I daresay that your daughter's like you, turning up her nose; but I say, D——n it! I'll not have a wife whose nose turns up."
Giulianic looked put out; his wife's face lengthened by several inches, whilst Ivanka did her best to look scared.
"Come, captain," continued Uros, "spout us one of your stories. Now listen, for he'll make you split with laughter. Come, give us one of your spicy ones; tell us your tale about the lack of wit, but without omitting the——"
"I'm afraid that the ladies——"
"Oh, rot the ladies! Now, all this comes from this new-fangled notion of having women at table; if they are to be squeamish and spoil all the fun, let them stop up their ears. Come, I told you I'd not brook contradiction to-day."
"Well, by-and-by; let me have my dinner now."
"What's the matter with him?" asked Mrs. Giulianic of the captain; "is he drunk?"
"Oh, worse! he's moon-struck; he's like that for a few days at every new moon."
Mrs. Giulianic made the sign of the Cross, and whispered something to her husband.
"Then, if you'll not tell us a story, our guest must sing us a song. Come, father-in-law, sing us a song, a merry, rollicking one, for when I'm on shore I like to laugh."