“Then, pray, why have you come?”
“Send them away,” said the man in a hoarse whisper.
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and the lieutenant was about to give an order but altered his mind, for he suspected the man’s mission, not an unusual one in those days.
“Come into my cabin, sir,” he said imperiously, and as he turned and strutted off, making the most of his inches, the giant—for such he was by comparison—stumbled after him, making the deck echo to the sound of his great boots.
“Now, sir,” said the lieutenant haughtily, “what is your business?”
The man leaned forward, and there was a leer on his bearded face seen by the dull swinging oil-lamp, as, half covering his mouth, he whispered hoarsely behind his hands—
“Like Hollands gin, master?”
“What do you mean, sir?” cried the lieutenant. “Speak out, for I have no time to lose.”
“Oh, I’ll speak plainly enough,” growled the man; “on’y do you like it?”
“Do you mean that a foreign vessel is going to land a quantity of Hollands to-night?”