"Yet," said Geoffrey, "you are now here, when you should be serving your King, getting more money for the girls. Why is this, when the Mignonne lies close by, waiting for such as you; when all the Admirals are calling out for sailors who know their duty?"
"He took me," the man cried, nodding his head towards Granger; "his men took me when I was drunk. Had I not been, fifty crimps couldn't a-done it. Now I'm in this place, awaiting to be sold, like a great black nigger in the Injies."
"How much does he owe?" asked Geoffrey of the man by his side--the crimp who had once worn the King's uniform as he himself now wore it--and speaking with disdain, "how much?"
"I want his press-money--that and another guinea would suffice. He will not go in the Dutchman to the colonies, otherwise I would have fifteen pounds or nothing."
"Will you serve the King again," asked Geoffrey, "if I buy you off?"
"At what rating? I was foretop-man with Anton. And later, with Captain Howe."
"And perhaps may be that again. Come, I will have you."
"Have me, then, and welcome. Get me out of this hole, anyway."
"Finish your drink, then, and stand up. Down with it. It's the last ashore. Stand up; what is your name?"
"George Redway."