He then inquired the name of our ship, number of guns, and
how long we had been cruising. After that, the force of the English
fleet, and a great many other questions relative to them; all of which
were put in French by the person who came with him, and the answer
translated, and taken down in a book. Some of the questions O'Brien
answered correctly, to others he pleaded ignorance; and to some, he
asserted what was not true. But I did not blame him for that, as it was
his duty not to give information to the enemy. At last they asked my
name, and rank, which O'Brien told them. "Was I noble?"
"Yes," replied O'Brien.
"Don't say so, O'Brien," interrupted I.
"Peter, you know nothing about it, you are grandson to a lord."
"I know that, but still I am not noble myself, although descended from
him; therefore pray don't say so."
"Bother! Pater, I have said it, and I won't unsay it; besides, Pater,
recollect it's a French question, and in France you would be considered
noble. At all events, it can do no harm."
"I feel too ill to talk, O'Brien; but I wish you had not said so."
They then inquired O'Brien's name, which he told them; his rank in the
service, and also, whether he was noble.
"I am an O'Brien," replied he; "and pray what's the meaning of the O
before my name, if I'm not noble? However, Mr Interpreter, you may add,
that we have dropped our title because it's not convanient." The French
officer burst out into a loud laugh, which surprised us very much.
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