Nat (calmly). Just explain your presence there. (Slight pause. Abner remains silent.) You didn’t find what you were looking for, did you? I was before you, Captain Freeman. Before I sailed this last time, I made a midnight visit to the post-office myself, but I covered my tracks. I think something must have scared you off before you had a chance to pick things up.
Abner. You dare to tell me that you entered the post-office?
Nat. Oh, yes, you won’t say anything about it. If you did I should be obliged to show the papers I went after, and you wouldn’t have any one see those papers for a farm.
Abner (desperately). I don’t know what you are driving at.
Nat. Oh, yes, you do. See here, Captain Freeman, all in this world I want is your influence with Ariel. This is a mean way to get it, I’ll admit, but I want the girl and I don’t care how I get her.
Abner. And if I refuse to bother Ariel any more what is it you are threatening?
Nat. Why, I don’t know as I have exactly threatened anything. Threatened isn’t a nice word. Of course you know that you owe as much to Miss Tinker as you did to my father. I don’t know exactly how you would come out if the thing was to go to court, but as long as Miss Cynthy is in need of money it looks to me like a question of honor on your part. I understand she is about to leave town to look for work.
Abner (snapping the words out). She isn’t going! (Beside himself again.) If you think you can frighten me you are mistaken! I absolutely deny that I was inside the post-office last night.
Nat. Oh, well, of course if you are going to take that stand I shall——
Abner (warningly). Hush!