"Mr. Carleton must be aware," said Capt. Beebee, "that his conduct, if unexplained, will bear a very strange construction."
Mr. Carleton was coldly silent.
"It never was heard of," the Captain went on,--"that a gentleman declined both to explain and to give satisfaction for any part of his conduct which had called for it."
"It never was heard that a gentleman did," said Thorn, removing his cigar a moment for the purpose of supplying the emphasis which his friend had carefully omitted to make.
"Will you say, Mr. Carleton," said Rossitur, "that you did not mean to offend us yesterday in what you said?"
"No, Mr. Rossitur."
"You will not!" cried the Captain.
"No, sir; for your friends had given me, as I conceived, just cause of displeasure; and I was, and am, careless of offending those who have done so."
"You consider yourself aggrieved, then, in the first place?" said Beebee.
"I have said so, sir."