"Perhaps you will soon learn better than to insult me," leered Gaston.
"You wretched dog," shot back the submarine boy, "you're past insult by any decent man!"
"Careful," warned the Frenchman, "or I will soon make you shriek your apologies to me. I can do what I please with you, and sometimes I have an ugly temper. But listen. I come for one purpose only—to find out what answer am to take to my master, M. Lemaire."
"Take him," retorted Jack, dryly, "the assurance of my undying contempt for him and all of his kind."
"You will be left here another twenty-four hours, without food or drink, if you do not give me a better answer to take," warned Gaston, leering down savagely into the boy's face. "Now, consider! Will you send word that you will be glad to see M. Lemaire in the morning?"
"Yes; if he's going to be in state prison," mocked Benson, "and locked in a cell, as he should be."
"Will you see him here?"
"I can't help myself."
"If M. Lemaire comes, will you be sensible? Will you tell him all that he wants to know about your boat and your work?"
"Not if I'm in my right mind!"