"Are you, indeed?" he roared. "Well, then, I am not. This is a
matter in which your lordship must allow me to be the better judge.
And, anyhow, I'll take the risk of acting on my own responsibility."
Lord Julian abandoned the struggle. He smiled wearily, shrugged,
and waved a hand in implied resignation. The Deputy-Governor
stormed on.
"Since my lord here has given you a commission, I can't regularly
deal with you out of hand for piracy as you deserve. But you
shall answer before a court-martial for your action in the matter
of Wolverstone, and take the consequences."
"I see," said Blood. "Now we come to it. And it's yourself as
Deputy-Governor will preside over that same court-martial. So that
ye can wipe off old scores by hanging me, it's little ye care how
ye do it!" He laughed, and added: "Praemonitus, praemunitus."
"What shall that mean?" quoth Lord Julian sharply.
"I had imagined that your lordship would have had some education."
He was at pains, you see, to be provocative.
"It's not the literal meaning I am asking, sir," said Lord Julian,
with frosty dignity.
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