THE GUNNER (dryly)
No. He’s not murdered yet.
LYDIA
Will they let me speak to him before they——
THE GUNNER
Ask Captain Bimbo, missus. (There is a flourish of trumpets outside.) That’ll be him now.
LYDIA (shuddering)
Ah!
ROBERT (groaning)
Bimbo!
(Drums beat and the trumpets sound again; then the notorious sea rover and pirate captain, Deuteronomy Bimbo, strides into the cabin and comes to an abrupt halt, staring from one to the other of his prostrate captives.
He is a straight-standing, lean, active man of thirty-five, so deeply tanned that his swarthiness might make him seem almost a mulatto; and yet, with his long, black, carefully curled hair framing his face, he is neither an ugly man nor, in spite of the sharp severity of his expression, is he of an aspect obviously sinister. He is scrupulously dressed; has fine lace at his throat; wears a brocaded black-and-crimson coat, black silk waistcoat and black silk breeches and stockings, with silver buckles to his shoes. There is a dark crimson sash about his waist, with a bandolier of the same color passing over his left shoulder; and attached by crimson silk ribbons to the sash and bandolier are eight pistols. He carries no sword or cutlass, but has a great plumed hat in his hand.)
BIMBO (to the Gunner, sharply, with a brief gesture toward Robert)
Make the gentleman easy.
(He goes on decisively to the table, tosses his hat upon it and picks up the ledger.)
THE GUNNER
Aye, your honor. (He proceeds at once to release Robert from his lashings.) A fine, strong, active seaman he is too.
BIMBO (growlingly)
D’ye think I’ve no eyes?
(He is intent upon the ledger, which he has opened.)
THE GUNNER (continuing his task)
I put a knob on his head for a handle to him if we need one.
(Chuckling, he pats Robert’s head again. Robert winces, groaning.)
BIMBO
Ha’ done!
(He seats himself at the table, studying the ledger.)