He made his way to the door of the room, and was out in the corridor in a moment.
‘Ben? Ben?’
‘Here I am, captain. Oh, Lord!’
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing—only—only—’
‘Only what, idiot?’
‘I thought I heard somebody in trouble.’
‘How so?’
‘A pistol shot, captain, from your hands, I take it, is reason enough for that.’
‘No, it is not. When you hear a pistol-shot from me again do not take it into your head that somebody is in trouble.’