Saart.
I—I—[Goes timidly off.]
Bos.
[Ringing.] Hello! Who is that? The water bailiff? A telegram from Nieuwediep? North of the Hook? I don’t understand a word! Stop your howling! a hatch, you say? 47?—Well, that’s damned—miserable—that! the corpse—advanced stage of decomposition! Barend—mustered in as oldest boy! Recognized by who? by—oh!—The Expectation has come into Nieuwediep disabled? And did Skipper Maatsuiker recognize him? Earrings? Yes, yes, silver earrings. No, never mind that. So it isn’t necessary to send any one from here for the identification? Yes, damned sad—yes—yes—we are in God’s hand—Yes—yes—I no longer had any doubts—thank you—yes—I’d like to get the official report as soon as possible. I will inform the underwriters, bejour! [Hangs up the receiver.] I’m simply dead! twelve men!
Kaps.
Barend? Kneirtje’s son? Washed ashore? That’s—that’s a wonder. I never expected to hear of the ship again. With the Clementine.
Bos.
[Angrily.] Yes—yes—yes—yes—[To Clementine.] Go inside to your mother! What stupidity to repeat what you heard in that woman’s presence. It won’t be five minutes now till half the village is here! Don’t you understand me? You sit there, God save me, and take on as if your lover was aboard——
Clementine.
Why didn’t you listen? [Sobs softly.]