noon
Wolverstone coming ashore next morning in the picturesque garb that he affected , his head swathed in a coloured handkerchief , was jeered at by an officer of the newly landed French troops . Not accustomed to derision , Wolverstone replied in kind and with interest . The officer passed to insult , and Wolverstone struck him a blow that felled him , and left him only the half of his poor senses . Within the hour the matter was reported to M. de Rivarol , and before noon , by M. de Rivarol 's orders , Wolverstone was under arrest in the castle . The Baron had just sat down to dinner with M. de Cussy when the negro who waited on them announced Captain Blood . Peevishly M. de Rivarol bade him be admitted , and there entered now into his presence a spruce and modish gentleman , dressed with care and sombre richness in black and silver , his swarthy , clear-cut face scrupulously shaven , his long black hair in ringlets that fell to a collar of fine point . In his right hand the gentleman carried a broad black hat with a scarlet ostrich-plume , in his left hand an ebony cane .