"The Consul—Consul Garman; he is sending me to Bremen to purchase a ship."
"Sending!" said Madame Torvestad, with an incredulous smile. "I did not know that one partner could 'send' another."
"Partner! oh yes! You see, he is Consul Garman, and I am Skipper Worse; and it will never be otherwise. Moreover, when it comes to purchasing a ship, it is just the job for me."
"You surprise me, and it distresses me that you do not tell me the real reason of your departure. I think we might have expected it of you."
He stared at her with his mouth open.
"You must know this, Captain Worse," she continued, "that I am satisfied you would not undertake this voyage unless you wished to get out of your engagement with us altogether."
She was about to proceed in this somewhat menacing manner, but the captain sprang up, excited, and red in the face.
"No, Madame Torvestad! I tell you what it is—you do me a confounded injustice. Pardon me, I should not have sworn, but I cannot help it. From the very first I have worried and schemed until I was black in the face, in order to escape this voyage; and then you come and tell me that I am behaving with deceit and devilry. I think everybody is mad to-day."
He stamped round the room, clawing at his hair; but Madame Torvestad eyed him with satisfaction—a weight had been removed from her heart.
A certain nervousness and uneasiness which had oppressed her when she entered vanished at once, and she resumed her usual imperious manner, as a mother should who has to deal with a wavering suitor.