what a
long, lanky swab he is, with teeth fit to unpick a splice; but let me
alone, I'll see if I can't make a hull of his carcass, vampyre or no
vampyre. "My nevy, Charles Holland, can't be allowed to cut away without nobody's
leave or licence. No, no; I'll not stand that anyhow. 'Never desert a
messmate in the time of need,' is the first maxim of a seaman, and I
ain't the one as 'll do so." Thus self-communing, the old admiral marched along until he came to Sir
Francis Varney's house, at the gate of which he gave the bell what he
called a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, that set it
ringing with a fury, the like of which had never certainly been heard by
the household. A minute or two scarcely elapsed before the domestics hurried to answer
so urgent a summons; and when the gate was opened, the servant who
answered it inquired his business. "What's that to you, snob? Is your master, Sir Francis Varney, in? because, if he be, let him know old Admiral Bell wants to speak to him. D'ye hear?" "Yes, sir," replied the servant, who had paused a few moments to examine
the individual who gave this odd kind of address. In another minute word was brought to him that Sir Francis Varney would
be very happy to see Admiral Bell. "Ay, ay," he muttered; "just as the devil likes to meet with holy water,
or as I like any water save salt water." He was speedily introduced to Sir Francis Varney, who was seated in the
same posture as he had been left by Henry Bannerworth not many minutes
before. "Admiral Bell," said Sir Francis, rising, and bowing to that individual
in the most polite, calm, and dignified manner imaginable, "permit me to
express the honour I feel at this unexpected visit." "None of your gammon." "Will you be seated. Allow me to offer you such refreshments as this
poor house affords." "D--n all this! You know, Sir Francis, I don't want none o' this
palaver. It's for all the world like a Frenchman, when you are going to
give him a broadside; he makes grimaces, throws dust in your eyes, and
tries to stab you in the back. Oh, no! none of that for me." "I should say not, Admiral Bell. I should not like it myself, and I dare
say you are a man of too much experience not to perceive when you are or
are not imposed upon." "Well, what is that to you? D--n me, I didn't come here to talk to you
about myself." "Then may I presume upon your courtesy so far as to beg that you will
enlighten me upon the object of your visit!" "Yes; in pretty quick time. Just tell me where you have stowed away my
nephew, Charles Holland?" "Really, I--"

"Hold your slack, will you, and hear me out; if he's living, let him
out, and I'll say no more about it; that's liberal, you know; it ain't
terms everybody would offer you." "I must, in truth, admit they are not; and, moreover, they quite
surprise even me, and I have learned not to be surprised at almost
anything." "Well, will you give him up alive? but, hark ye, you mustn't have made
very queer fish of him, do ye see?" "I hear you," said Sir Francis, with a bland smile, passing one hand
gently over the other, and showing his front teeth in a peculiar manner;
"but I really cannot comprehend all this; but I may say, generally, that
Mr. Holland is no acquaintance of mine, and I have no sort of knowledge
where he may be." "That won't do for me," said the admiral, positively, shaking his head. "I am particularly sorry, Admiral Bell, that it will not, seeing that I
have nothing else to say." "I see how it is; you've put him out of the way, and I'm d----d if you
shan't bring him to life, whole and sound, or I'll know the reason why." "With that I have already furnished you, Admiral Bell," quietly rejoined
Varney; "anything more on that head is out of my power, though my
willingness to oblige a person of such consideration as yourself, is
very great; but, permit me to add, this is a very strange and odd
communication from one gentleman to another. You have lost a relative,
who has, very probably, taken some offence, or some notion into his
head, of which nobody but himself knows anything, and you come to one
yet more unlikely to know anything of him, than even yourself. "Gammon again, now, Sir Francis Varney, or Blarney." "Varney, if you please, Admiral Bell; I was christened Varney." "Christened, eh?" "Yes, christened--were you not christened? If not, I dare say you
understand the ceremony well enough." [Illustration]

"I should think I did; but, as for christening, a--"

"Go on, sir." "A vampyre! why I should as soon think of reading the burial service of
a pig." "Very possible; but what has all this to do with your visit to me?" "This much, you lubber. Now, d--n my carcass from head to stern, if I
don't call you out." "Well, Admiral Bell," slid Varney, mildly, "in that case, I suppose I
must come out; but why do you insist that I have any knowledge of your
nephew, Mr. Charles Holland?" "You were to have fought a duel with him, and now he's gone." "I am here," said Varney. "Ay," said the admiral, "that's as plain as a purser's shirt upon a
handspike; but that's the very reason why my nevey ain't here, and
that's all about it." "And that's marvellous little, so far as the sense is concerned," said
Varney, without the movement of a muscle. "It is said that people of your class don't like fighting mortal men;
now you have disposed of him, lest he should dispose of you." "That is explicit, but it is to no purpose, since the gentleman in
question hasn't placed himself at my disposal." "Then, d----e, I will; fish, flesh, or fowl, I don't care; all's one to
Admiral Bell. Come fair or fowl, I'm a tar for all men; a seaman ever
ready to face a foe, so here goes, you lubberly moon manufactured calf." "I hear, admiral, but it is scarcely civil, to say the least of it;
however, as you are somewhat eccentric, and do not, I dare say, mean all
your words imply, I am quite willing to make every allowance." "I don't want any allowance; d--n you and your allowance, too; nothing
but allowance of grog, and a pretty good allowance, too, will do for me,
and tell you, Sir Francis Varney," said the admiral, with much wrath,
"that you are a d----d lubberly hound, and I'll fight you; yes, I'm
ready to hammer away, or with anything from a pop-gun to a ship's gun;
you don't come over me with your gammon, I tell you. You've murdered
Charles Holland because you couldn't face him--that's the truth of it." "With the other part of your speech, Admiral Bell, allow me to say, you
have mixed up a serious accusation--one I cannot permit to pass
lightly." "Will you or not fight?" "Oh, yes; I shall be happy to serve you any way that I can. I hope this
will be an answer to your accusation, also." "That's settled, then." "Why, I am not captious, Admiral Bell, but it is not generally usual for
the principals to settle the preliminaries themselves; doubtless you, in
your career of fame and glory, know something of the manner in which
gentlemen demean themselves on these occasions."