He paused, appealing with a look to Edmund, who grunted as he generally did when Welfare became eloquent.
“That’s all right. We had a rough time, but now that it’s over I’m glad to have had the experience.”
“I wouldn’t have had you come to harm, not for a million.”
It was evident that Captain Welfare was perfectly sincere in his solicitude. I had no reason to doubt it, for in spite of the deception he had put on me, I believed him to have a regard and respect for me that was none the less real because of his very English pleasure in knowing one whom he persisted in regarding as a “swell.”
Unfortunately he had the failing, so common in his class, of believing it to be necessary to put all the fine shades of his feelings into words. He would leave nothing to the imagination if he could help it. I feared he would drive Edmund quite mad.
“We had better have some tea,” I said, and rang the bell.
“If you’ll excuse me, sir, I think I could say what I have to say better if I had a glass of brandy.”
“Then for God’s sake don’t give him any,” said Edmund.
“Bring some tea and a bottle of brandy and some sodas,” I said to the Arab. I was determined to be just to Welfare.
“Now, Captain Welfare, I have asked you to come here simply to discuss how we are to get rid of all this poisonous cargo. I take it that my brother has explained my views on the matter, and what I have decided must be done.”