«Who else but Captain Blood could have done that?»
«My God!» said Coulevain.
«I hope, none the less, you'll give me some breakfast, my Colonel?»
«Aboard the Royal Duchess,» said Macartney, evilly facetious, «you shall have all the breakfast you require.»
«Much obliged. But I have a prior claim on the hospitality of Colonel de Coulevain, for services rendered to his wife.»
Major Macartney — he had been promoted since Blood's last meeting with him — smiled. «My claim can wait, then, until your fast is broken.»
«What claim is that?» quoth Coulevain.
«To do my duty by arresting this damned pirate, and delivering him to the hangman.»
M. de Coulevain seemed shocked. «Arrest him? You want to laugh, I think. This, sir, is France. Your warrant does not run on French soil.»
«Perhaps not. But there is an agreement between France and England for the prompt exchange of any prisoners who may have escaped from a penal settlement. Under that agreement, sir, you dare not refuse to surrender Captain Blood to me.»