for it. And I see no reason why you could
not have made them give up their cargo without a skirmish. Ugh!" he
said, at the remembrance.

"Now, a good gentlemanly fight with a rapier is _quite_ another
thing," he went on. He smirked and made a face at the parakeet who did
its best to smirk back. "_That_ is a graceful and fine art. Refined,
and not at all degrading to one's character."

No sound from Claggett Chew. Osterbridge Hawsey rattled on and Chris,
pecking at the fruit proffered him, thought that sometimes Osterbridge
Hawsey might quite possibly talk just as gaily to himself as he did to
the unresponsive Claggett Chew.

"Claggett--your men!" his voice rose. "_Really._ They are making an
_exhibition_ of themselves on the beach. Just as well there is no one
to see but some aborigines. _Quite_ revolting. _How_ can you bear to
associate with such _types_, when you are so much above them
yourself--but there, I must not pique you, must I, poor Claggett? I
expect your wound smarts a trifle?"

Claggett Chew turned his face toward Osterbridge Hawsey, his eyes
blazing with rage and his mouth working with the fretful annoyance of
an ill man, but he only muttered and turned away again.

"Do you know," his more delicate friend pursued, stretching out a long
finger for the parakeet to perch on, which to his evident pleasure it
instantly did, "Do you know, Claggett, this dear little creature seems
fearless and almost human? _Quite_ touching."

He paused, admiring the vivid colors of the feathers which perhaps
awoke a kindred feeling in Osterbridge Hawsey, loving a fine display
as he did.

[Illustration]

"I shall give you a name, my little feathered captive," he said, and
pondered. "I wonder what would be suitable? Something French,
undoubtedly." He waved a hand and the lace at his wrist fell forward
in a not overly clean frill. "Louis, after the dear king? No--that
would be too great an honor for so small a bird, gaudy though you are.
I think, 'Monsieur,' after the king's brother. That's it. Little
Monsieur." He broke off, dreamily. "To think that I once knew such a
royal, such a distinguished man!" He sighed reminiscently.

For the first time words came from Claggett Chew. He bit them off as
if the saying of them cost him very great effort.

"More _ex_tinguished than _dis_tinguished, I would say."

Osterbridge Hawsey permitted a sad condescending smile to cross his
face and he shook his finger at Claggett Chew. "