“Well, I promise,” replied I, supposing her secret of no consequence.
“Well, then—mind—you’ve promised. Father is no more deaf than you or I.”
“Indeed!” replied I; “why, he goes by the name of Deaf Stapleton?”
“I know he does, and makes everybody believe that he is so; but it is to make money.”
“How can he make money by that?”
“There’s many people in business who go down the river, and they wish to talk of their affairs without being overheard as they go down. They always call for Deaf Stapleton: and there’s many a gentleman and lady, who have much to say to each other, without wishing people to listen—you understand me?”
“O yes, I understand—Latin!”
“Exactly—and they call for Deaf Stapleton; and by this means he gets more good fares than any other waterman, and does less work.”
“But how will he manage now that I am with him?”
“O, I suppose it will depend upon his customers; if a single person wants to go down, you will take the sculls; if they call for oars, you will both go; if he considers Deaf Stapleton only is wanted, you will remain on shore; or, perhaps, he will insist upon your being deaf too.”