Once or twice he raised his eyes and glanced significantly at an old man who had entered after Starling and was seated near the door, but the old fisherman shook his head in response to the look of inquiry, and Big Willie grew more silent and serious. At last he said, in one of the pauses of conversation:
"You seem to have traveled a main. Where be ye bound for?"
Mr. Starling nodded up toward the ceiling and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"I'm staying at The Park," he said. "Come along with Captain Murpoint."
"You're his servant," said Willie.
"Yes, I'm his servant," said Mr. Starling, looking into the bottom of his quart pot with one eye closed.
"Oh," said the fisherman, with an air almost of relief. "Oh, that's it, is it?" he said. "I thought perhaps ye were loafing round a bit."
Mr. Starling grinned.
"I can do a bit at that trade," he said, with a wink that elicited a guffaw.
"Noo doubt," said Willie. "An' what sort of a man is the captain?" he asked.