Devenish tilted the pannikin and set it down with a clatter.
"Then what do you mean? Out with it, Jewson. I'm sick of beating about the bush!"
"So am I," said the steward, dryly.
"If you can't turn a man out of his hole, and prevent him getting all that's to be got out of it, what on earth can you do that's any good to me?"
"If you went home," said Jewson, slowly, "I could keep him here till it was no use his following you—till you were married!"
"Oh, so you think you could do all that?"
"I know I could, Captain Devenish."
"You know it, do you?"
"Of course, you would make it worth my while."
Ralph laughed harshly as he raised the pannikin once more.