“Humph! No. Of course not. Well, come down into the saloon.”
The captain looked up from where he was writing, having carefully abstained from joining them since lunch.
“Well, gentlemen,” he said, smiling, and a quiet triumphant look beaming on his face, “done?”
“Yes,” said the doctor, wiping his forehead; “I haven’t worked so hard for months.”
“Like the look of her, sir?”
“Very much indeed,” said Sir John quietly; and a pang of misery shot through the boy.
“Ah, you don’t know her yet, sir; but I’m glad you think well of her.”
Sir John took a seat and was silent for a few moments, Doctor Instow watching him with an inquiring look, while Jack was in agony.
“Look here, Captain Bradleigh,” said Sir John at last, “I do not profess to be a judge of such matters, but everything here seems to me to speak for itself, and I can fairly say that I never saw a vessel in such perfect trim before.”
“That’s a high compliment to pay me, sir,” replied the captain, “and I thank you for it. Well, I’m glad to have met you, sir, and it is a break in rather a monotonous life. Don’t apologise, sir, I know it is a very heavy price for the craft, and of course it is on account of her having fittings that not one gentleman in ten would think of putting in a yacht. You were quite welcome to see her, and as for anything I have done—”