`` i very much doubt if anything so mild as ocean water would prove effective at dousing that gentleman 's ardor for any prolonged time , '' laurence said , indulging from temper in a little sarcasm : bligh had gone so far today as to overtly speak of his right , if restored , to grant full pardon , and laurence had been forced to quit him mid-sentence to avoid taking insult at this species of attempted bribery .