How far this contention might have gone, having now reached its culminating point, had the admiral and Jack been alone, it is hard to say; but as it was, Henry and Marchdale interfered, and so the quarrel was patched up for the moment, in order to give place to more important affairs. Varney seemed to think, that after the smiling welcome he had given to his second, he had done quite enough; for there he stood, tall, and gaunt, and motionless, if we may except an occasional singular movement of the mouth, and a clap together of his teeth, at times, which was enough to make anybody jump to hear. “For Heaven’s sake,” said Marchdale, “do not let us trifle at such a moment as this. Mr. Pringle, you really had no business here.” “Mr. who?” said Jack. “Pringle, I believe, is your name?” returned Marchdale. “It were; but blowed if ever I was called mister before.” The admiral walked up to Sir Francis Varney, and gave him a nod that looked much more like one of defiance than of salutation, to which the vampyre replied by a low, courtly bow. “Oh, bother!” muttered the old admiral. “If I was to double up my backbone like that, I should never get it down straight again. Well, all’s right; you’ve come; that’s all you could do, I suppose.” “I am here,” said Varney, “and therefore it becomes a work of supererogation to remark that I’ve come.” “Oh! does it? I never bolted a dictionary, and, therefore, I don’t know exactly what you mean.” “Step aside with me a moment, Admiral Bell, and I will tell you what you are to do with me after I am shot, if such should be my fate.” “Do with you! D—d if I’ll do anything with you.” “I don’t expect you will regret me; you will eat.” “Eat!” “Yes, and drink as usual, no doubt, notwithstanding being witness to the decease of a fellow-creature.” “Belay there; don’t call yourself a fellow-creature of mine; I ain’t a vampyre.” “But there’s no knowing what you may be; and now listen to my instructions; for as you’re my second, you cannot very well refuse to me a few friendly offices. Rain is falling. Step beneath this ancient tree, and I will talk to you.” CHAPTER XXXIX. THE STORM AND THE FIGHT.-THE ADMIRAL’S REPUDIATION OF HIS PRINCIPAL. “Well,” said the admiral, when they were fairly under the tree, upon the leaves of which the pattering rain might be heard falling: “well—what is it?” “If your young friend, Mr. Bannerworth, should chance to send a pistol-bullet through any portion of my anatomy, prejudicial to the prolongation of my existence, you will be so good as not to interfere with anything I may have about me, or to make any disturbance whatever.” “You may depend I sha’n’t.” “Just take the matter perfectly easy—as a thing of course.” “Oh! I mean d—d easy.”