"Dr. Demetrius informed me that he was."
"Huh! Guess he wos filled up with thet idear by me. Yes, ma'am, I reckoned t' make more dollars by supplyin' a nevy as a corp. But he wos a pick-up, bless y', racketin' off chain, withouter friend, wife, or kid, till I help plant him in Madeira."
"Will inquiries be made about him?" she asked, carelessly.
"Y' make me smile some, ma'am. Why, I picked up a stray dog o' purpose."
"H'm!" said Leah, lying back comfortably; "it would have been better for your pocket had you withheld this information until you cashed my cheque. It will make a difference."
"Goin' t' cut int' th' thousand?" asked Strange, blandly.
"He was not your nephew, remember," she retorted. The mariner stared and chuckled. "Donner und Blitz!"
"I know German, if you prefer to talk in that tongue."
He recovered with another stare. "I reckon y've hed a board-school eddication all along th' line. I swear in any lingo handy----"
"So I hear," she informed him swiftly.