“Certainly, certainly, my dear fellow,” replied Mullen, smiling. “Yes, you and I have a little account to settle, haven’t we? I’ll pay you, by all means. I always do pay my debts, and with interest. First, about the hulk.”
He had been standing by the door all the time, but he now stepped forward and counted out ten sovereigns upon the table.
“Will that satisfy you and keep your mouth shut?” he said, stepping back again.
I nodded.
“Put them in your pocket, then, and that matter’s settled.”
I stooped to pick up the coins, but as I did so Mullen suddenly pushed me with all his strength against Hughes, knocking the two of us backward upon the bunk.
In another second he had stepped out of the cabin, pulling the door to with a bang, and then we heard the rattle of the outside bolt in the socket.
Hughes hurled me off and sprang up with blazing eyes.
“Did you take the bolt off and put it outside?” he asked.
“No.”