"Listeners hear no good of themselves." "It appears that gentlemen can't converse without being vatched," continued Mr Easthupp, pulling up his shirt collar.
"It is not the first time that you have thought proper to make very offensive remarks, Mr Biggs; and as you appear to consider yourself ill-treated in the affair of the trousers--for I tell you at once that it was I who brought them on board--I can only say," continued our hero, with a very polite bow, "that I shall be most happy to give you satisfaction." "I am your superior officer, Mr Easy," replied the boatswain.

"Yes, by the rules of the service; but you just now asserted that you would waive your rank--indeed, I dispute it on this occasion; I am on the quarter-deck, and you are not." "This is the gentleman whom you have insulted, Mr Easy," replied the boatswain, pointing to the purser's steward.
"Yes, Mr Heasy, quite as good a gentleman as yourself although I av ad misfortunes--I ham of as old a family as hany in the country," replied Mr Easthupp, now backed by the boatswain; "many the year did I valk Bond Street, and I ave as good blood in my weins as you, Mr Heasy, halthough I have been misfortunate--I've had Admirals in my family." "You have grossly insulted this gentleman," said Mr Biggs, in continuation; "and notwithstanding all your talk of equality, you are afraid to give him satisfaction--you shelter yourself under your quarter-deck." "Mr Biggs," replied our hero, who was now very wroth, "I shall go on shore directly we arrive at Malta.

Let you and this fellow put on plain clothes, and I will meet you both--and then I'll show you whether I am afraid to give satisfaction." "One at a time," said the boatswain.

"No, sir, not one at a time, but both at the same time--I will fight both, or none.

If you are my superior officer, you must descend," replied Jack, with an ironical sneer, "to meet me, or I will not descend to meet that fellow, whom I believe to have been little better than a pickpocket." This accidental hit of Jack's made the purser's steward turn pale as a sheet, and then equally red.