"Well, the postmistress."
"Send Martha to find out, cap'n. If there's news of that kind ready to the post-mistress's tongue she's not likely to hide it."
"I'll do it. Ask Martha to come here."
Ben left the room and a few moments later returned, preceded by the housekeeper. The captain explained clearly what he wanted her to do.
"Go down for my letters, Martha, and engage the postmistress in gossip. Find out if she knows anything about Ben and Dare having arrived last night. Don't put a leading question. But there, you'll know well enough how to set about it. You haven't spoken to anyone yourself about their coming here, have you, Martha?"
"Not me, sir. There's no one here I'd want to talk to about your affairs—or my own."
"Good woman. Well, we want to keep their presence here a secret if it's not already known."
Martha left on her errand, and Ben, enthused at the prospect of action, paced up and down the room as though he were on watch at sea once again.
"If there's no one the wiser for my being here, you'll send me, cap'n?"
"Certainly, Ben."