“Captain York Coombs of the Harvest Home, I believe!”
“I’m answering to that hail, damn yeh!”
“I am referring to full-rigger Harvest Home.”
“Shan’t admit that last.”
“Why not, sir?”
“It’ll be owning up to too much of a comedown.”
“Well, you don’t have to admit it, not in my case. You don’t remember me, eh?”
“Not from Adam.” The old man set the ball of his thumb beneath the angle of his jaw and groaned. “What’s your grudge against me, outside o’ me swearing you into State prison for a murder I done myself?”
“I sailed apprentice with you; and it’s easy, of course, for a captain to forget an⸺”
Coombs flapped his hand and grunted, “Mebbe you’ve said enough for me to understand what that poke meant.”