"What choice have I?"
"Why, you may bunk with the second mate or one of the other passengers. But no," he corrected himself; "I should have said with one of two of the other passengers. The lady hath a cabin to herself."
"The lady!" I exclaimed.
Master Juggins pursed his lips in a soundless whistle.
"So you carry a lady," he commented.
"Aye," replied Abbot, lapsing into his customary manner of indifference, "and a sore nuisance it is, too, although it makes but one in the cabin."
"Who is she?"
"I know not."
He turned to me.
"And now, young sir, what do you say? Will it be the second mate or a passenger for companion!"