"Young dog," he said, genially; "at his age, too." Captain Nugent's face was suffused with wrath at the pleasantry, and he regarded him with a fixed stare.

On board the _Conqueror_ there was a witchery in that glance more potent than the spoken word, but in his own parlour the new captain met it calmly.
"I didn't come here to listen to your foolery," said Nugent; "I came to tell you to punish that boy of yours." "And I sha'n't do it," replied the other.

"I have got something better to do than interfere in children's quarrels.

I haven't got your spare time, you know." Captain Nugent turned purple.

Such language from his late first officer was a revelation to him.
"I also came to warn you," he said, furiously, "that I shall take the law into my own hands if you refuse." "Aye, aye," said Hardy, with careless contempt; "I'll tell him to keep out of your way.