“I’m afraid, sir, you must—”
“Excuse you? No, I don’t think I can. Besides, Pugh, you would go with me as my partner, for I shall have all that settled.”
“You are very, very kind, sir,” said Dutch, flushing with pleasure.
“Nonsense, man,” cried Mr Parkley; “all selfishness. You and I can do so much together. See how useful you are to me, partner.”
“Not your partner yet, sir.”
“Yes, you are, Pugh,” said the other, slapping him on the shoulder; “and now we’ll go in for calculations and arrangements for the expedition. I was thinking the schooner would do, but I find it would be too small, so I shall set Captain Studwick to look out for a good brig or a small barque, and take him into our confidence to some extent.”
“Not wholly?”
“No; and yet, perhaps, it would be as well. And now, Pugh, I’ve got a favour to ask of you.”
“Anything, sir, that I can do I will do with all my heart,” replied Pugh, enthusiastically.
“I knew you would,” replied Mr Parkley. “You see, this is a big thing, my lad, and will be the making of us both, and Lorry is a very decent fellow.”