Day was silent. "I think this is pretty much a mare's nest," said he presently, "and I really don't know why I should have been bothered with it."
I was furious with Pye and his idea (as I conceived it) of legal discretion.
"Very well, sir," said I somewhat sullenly, and turned to go, when the door of the cabin opened and there entered Sir John Barraclough with his customary insouciance.
"It seems, Sir John," said Day, in his ironic tones, "that not only have I the honour of a distinguished baronet as first officer, but also a prince as cargo."
There was, as I had gathered, little love between the captain and his first officer. Barraclough laughed.
"Oh, you've just tumbled to it," he said. "I wonder how. But it was bound to leak out some time."
I never saw a man more astonished than Day. He leapt to his feet.
"Good God!" he said. "I seem to be the only one who doesn't know what's going on in my ship. Is this part of the jest?"
Barraclough in his turn showed surprise, but it was Holgate spoke.
"Is it true, Sir John? It can't be true," he cried, opening his mouth so that the horrid tooth demonstrated itself.