"Oh, I could not help liking it. The least said and the most to the purpose, always pleases me best; and this explains nothing, and demands all you want—which is a fight; so it's all right, you see, and nothing can be possibly better."
Charles did glance in his uncle's face, for he suspected, from the manner in which these words were uttered, that the old man was amusing himself a little at his expense. The admiral, however, looked so supernaturally serious that Charles was foiled.
"I repeat, it's a capital letter," he said.
"Yes, you said so."
"Well, what are you staring at?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Do you doubt my word?"
"Not at all, uncle; only I thought there was a degree of irony in the manner in which you spoke."
"None at all, my boy. I never was more serious in all my life."
"Very good. Then you will remember that I leave my honour in this affair completely in your hands."