He had arrived at no decision on this point when he saw a figure approaching him. It was Billy Harman.
“Why, there you are!” said Billy. “Just the man I wanted to see. I looked into Sam Brown’s, and you weren’t there, and Sam said: ‘Try down on the wharves; the Captain is sure to be down on the wharves on the lookout for his ship.’”
“I’ll teach him to talk about me and my affairs,” said Blood. “Well, now you’ve found me, what have you got for me?”
“A ship,” replied Harman.
“Have you got it in your pocket?” said the Captain. “If so, produce it. A ship! And since what day have you turned owner?”
Mr. Harman produced a pipe and began to load it carefully and meditatively. His manner could not have been more detached had the Captain not been present.
Then, having lit the pipe and taken a draw, he seemed to remember the presence of the other.
“Yes,” said he, “it’s a sure-enough job if you wish to take it. I’d have had it myself, only I’m no hand at the deep-sea-cable business; but when the thing was spoken of to me I said: ‘I’ve got the man you want who can do any job in that way better’n any man in Frisco.’ You see, I knew you’d served two years on the Groper.”
“The Grapnel, you mean.”