“Will—you—speak—out!”
“Yes, sir; Mr Storks is going off to-night with an armed boat’s crew—”
“Thank you, Mr Burnett, I am much obliged; but allow me to tell you that your news is very stale, for I was perfectly aware of that fact, and gave the orders to Mr Storks myself.”
“Yes, sir; of course, sir; but—”
“My good boy, what do you want?”
“To go with them, sir.”
“Oh! Then why didn’t you say so at first?”
“I didn’t know how you’d take it, sir.”
“Then you know now: very badly. No; the boat’s going on important business, and I don’t want her packed full of useless boys. What good do you expect you could do there?”
“Learn my profession, sir.”