The English shipman's lips shut tight.
"I never make but the one offer, and that is an honest offer," he asserted. "Ten pennies I named it, and ten pennies I bide by. If there were more of you I might shave it down, but for your number that is a fair charge."
Matteo leaned forward and whispered in Hugh's ear:
"The fellow speaks truth. Moreover, he hath us at advantage, for save our friend of the galley, there is none here to compete with him."
"Then shall we accept?" asked Hugh.
Matteo shrugged his shoulders.
"Hast any desire to sail with the Cypriot?"
Hugh shook his head.
"I know not why, yet——"
Matteo leaned closer.