laurence could by that sort of testimony have denounced a score of men , in the navy , and would nevertheless cheerfully and with a sense of perfect honesty have sworn , under oath , that he knew nothing of their predilections and personal habits , and denied any knowledge of a crime , even if admiral d-had maintained an entire troop of particularly beautiful young men who could not reef a sail or pull upon a line , and captain k-had so passionately greeted his first lieutenant of ten years , that man returning wounded from a boarding party , as to require all present to avert their eyes .