PIRATE CHIEF (with another bow). Charmed!
JILL (politely). Don't mention it, Commodore.
OLIVER. My sister wants to marry you. Er—carry on. (He moves a little away from them and lies down.)
JILL (sitting down and indicating a place beside her). Won't you sit down, Commodore?
PIRATE CHIEF. Thank you, madam. The other side if I may. I shall hear better if you condescend to accept me. (He sits down on the other side of her.)
JILL. Oh, I'm so sorry! I was forgetting about your ear.
PIRATE CHIEF. Don't mention it. A little discussion in the La Plata river with a Spanish gentleman. At the end of it I was an ear short and he was a head short. It was considered in the family that I had won.
(There is an awkward pause.)
JILL (shyly). Well, Commodore?
PIRATE CHIEF. Won't you call me Eric?