“Why not, sir?”
“Because—because—”
“Well, because—because?”
“Because, father, I was afraid that you would think it so unreasonable.”
“Humph! How much do you want, then, eh? I am afraid your distressed sailor is a bit of a beggar after all.”
“Oh, no, father,” cried Mark excitedly, and he had quite recovered his confidence now. “The poor fellow spoke as if he were appealing for his life.”
“Was all this genuine, Mark, or the cunning of a practised mendicant—stop—what do you say, Dean?”
“Oh, uncle, I am sure it was genuine.”
“Humph! Yes,” said Sir James. “You are like what your mother was, boy—easily moved. Sounds bad, doctor. What do you say?”
“Let us first hear the whole of Mark’s story, sir,” replied the doctor.