A short, stout man stood for a moment
with the handle of the door in his hand, and then came in, carefully
bearing before him a glass of gin and water. It was the first time that
he had set foot there, and all understood that by this intrusion Mr.
Daniel Kybird sought to place sea-captains and other dignitaries on a
footing with the keepers of slop-shops and dealers in old clothes. In
the midst of an impressive silence he set his glass upon the table and,
taking a chair, drew a small clay pipe from his pocket.
[Illustration: "A diversion was created by the entrance of a new
arrival."]
Aghast at the intrusion, the quartette conferred with their eyes, a
language which is perhaps only successful in love. Captain Cooper, who
was usually moved to speech by externals, was the first to speak.
"You've got a sty coming on your eye, Hall," he remarked.
"I daresay."
"If anybody's got a needle," said the captain, who loved minor
operations.
Nobody heeded him except the harbour-master, and he muttered something
about beams and motes, which the captain failed to understand.
Pages:
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60