The captain said shortly, “I don’t care to hear any law, Mr. Mason. This is my ship. On board it I’m the law. I’m responsible for what I do. I’m going to look in that closet. Get back out of the way.”
For a moment Mason and the captain locked eyes, the captain’s weatherbeaten countenance showed dogged determination. Mason’s granite-hard features devoid of expression. Then Mason stepped to one side and said, “You’re taking the responsibility for this, Captain.”
“I’m taking the responsibility.”
Mrs. Newberry flung herself toward the closet. “You can’t do it! It’s an outrage! Mr. Mason, why don’t you stop him?”
The lawyer, trained from years of courtroom experience to make lightning-fast appraisals of character, said simply, “I can’t stop him, Mrs. Newberry. He’s going to search that closet.”
She stood with her back against the closet door, her arms outspread. “Well,” she said, “ I can stop him!”
The lawyer stared at her intently until her defiant eyes shifted to his.
“If anything significant should be in that closet, you’re not helping things any,” he warned.
“I don’t know what he’s looking for, and I don’t care,” she blazed. “It’s the principle of the thing. The captain should be out on deck, saving the man who’s fallen overboard, instead of snooping through my things!”
The captain said, “I’m going to search that closet.” He moved forward. “Will you get away from that door, Madam?”