"One sometimes gets a humorous satisfaction from baffling people. Besides, I wanted to persuade you I'm not revengeful. It's obvious you don't like me."
"Oh well," said Olivia, "I don't claim my prejudices are always logical. Sometimes one likes people, and sometimes one does not."
"We'll let it go and I'll try to be resigned. However, I don't think you ought to prejudice my sobrecargo."
Olivia's eyes sparkled. It looked as if Wolf had seen her touch Kit; he was very keen.
"Do you know I have prejudiced Mr. Musgrave?" she asked.
"He has not hinted this; the young fellow is staunch, for all that, I don't imagine you approve his sailing on board my ship. Do you approve?"
Olivia said nothing, and Wolf resumed: "If it will give you much satisfaction, I'll discharge him after the next voyage."
For a few moments Olivia thought hard. She wanted Kit to leave Mossamedes, but she did not know yet if she wanted him to stop about Las Palmas altogether. Then she felt that Wolf was not the man to whom she would like to owe a debt. The fellow was cunning.
"Oh no!" she said smiling, "it's really not important, and I wouldn't like to feel accountable if he didn't get another post."
"Very well. If he wants to go, I'll use no arguments. If he wants to stop, you won't try to persuade him he ought not?"