"And a householder you've become already, by all accounts. I don't set much store by Town Quay talk as a rule—"
"That's right," interrupted Mr Rogers. "There's no man ought to know its worth better than you, that sets most of it goin'."
"They do say as you've started by leasin' the two cottages in Harbour
Terrace."
"Do they?" Captain Cai glanced at the ship-chandler for confirmation.
"Well, then, I hope it is true."
"'Tis nothing of the sort," snapped Mr Rogers. Seeing how Captain Cai's face fell, he added, "I may be wrong, o' course, but I reckon there was two tenants, and they wanted a cottage apiece."
"Ah, to be sure!" agreed the honest captain, visibly relieved.
But the Quaymaster persisted. "Yes, yes; there was talk of a friend o' yours, an' that you two were for settin' up house alongside one another. Hunken was the name, if I remember?"
Again Captain Cai glanced at the ship-chandler. He was plainly puzzled, as the ship-chandler was plainly nettled. But he answered simply—
"That's it—'Bias Hunken."
"Have I met the man, by any chance?"