"I rather fancy he is," he replied. "At any rate, I am quite certain he is not one who forgives."
Then he changed the conversation by inquiring how long I had been at sea, and what countries I had visited. With some of them he professed to be acquainted.
"It is rather impertinent of me to say so," he said, looking round to see that there was no one near the door, "but I am afraid you and your captain are not on the best of terms."
"I am sorry to say that we are not," I answered, and stopped there, for I had no desire to discuss the matter with him.
"You hold a Master's Certificate, do you not?" he inquired.
I answered in the affirmative, and once more he was silent.
"I suppose you would have no objection to shipping as captain," he went on after a long pause, "if the opportunity ever presented itself?"
"Most certainly I should not," I replied, with a laugh. "I fear, however, it will be some time before I shall have such an opportunity."
"In this line, perhaps," he said, "but I suppose, if you had an offer from another firm, you would accept it?"
"I should feel very much inclined to do so," I said, wondering at the same time what he was driving at.