“Exactly,” said Sir John, “that is what I meant.”
“Then she’d suit you to a tittle, sir.”
“Has she made any long voyages?” said the doctor.
“No, sir, but she has been in some rough weather. I brought her round from Glasgow in the dirtiest weather I was ever in on our coast; and from here we sailed to Gib, and right away through the Mediterranean, meaning to go through the Canal and on to Ceylon; but long before we’d got to Alexandria he was sick of it, and pitched it all. I must say that we did have rather a nasty time, but, as I told him, it only showed what a beautiful boat she was. It was wonderful how we danced over the waves with close-reefed canvas. But he’d had enough, gave me my orders to bring her here to Dartmouth, and he went back to Marseilles by one of the Messageries Maritimes, and across home. When we got back, first thing I saw was the advertisement that she was for sale.”
“You have a good crew on board then?” said Sir John thoughtfully.
“As good a crew as I could pick, sir, and they are well up to their work. For I’m rather a hard man, young gentleman,” continued the captain, turning to look sharply at Jack, “as stern about discipline as they are in the Royal Navy; but work done, I like to see my men play, and somehow I think they get on very well with me. But of course, gentlemen, if you bought the yacht, you are not bound to take the captain and crew.”
“Oh no, of course not,” said Sir John quietly.
“There, gentlemen, I’ve been doing all the talking: Perhaps now you would like to ask me a few questions.”
“I think we might defer most of them till we have seen the yacht, eh, Meadows?” said Doctor Instow.
“Yes, certainly, unless anything occurs in our conversation with Captain Bradleigh.”