“From Bracegirdle, Pollyblank, and Company, Ship and Insurance Agents, Birchin Lane, London, to Miguel, Mavrocordato, and Thomasson, Frères, Fruit Merchants and General Shippers, Smyrna, 17th March, 1881. At three days’ sight pay to John Harding, master of the ship Muscadine, or order, the sum of one thousand five hundred and seventy-five pounds sterling. Value received.
“1575 pounds, 0 shillings 0 pence. Bracegirdle, Pollyblank and Co.”
“This is a very nice little sum of money,” said the corsair complacently, restored to all his previous good humour; “a very nice little sum of money!”
“Wait till you get it,” said Captain Harding gruffly, by no means pleased at the other’s satisfaction.
“Oh, I shall get it easily enough,” replied the corsair airily. “You’ve only to put your signature to it, and the thing’s done.”
“When I sign it,” said the captain, pointedly.
“Ah! my dear captain, there will be no bother about that, when I ask you politely,” retorted the pirate chief, with a significant look, which did not have the slightest effect on the brave sailor—indeed it only made him smile.
“We will see,” was all he said in reply, but his determined expression of face added the rest.
“I can wait,” answered the other; “so we will not argue the point, for at present I have got more pressing matters to attend to.”
A signal was then made to the felucca, which had kept the ship in sight all the while, although close in to the land, and apparently proceeding on a coasting-voyage, and having nothing to do with the other vessel; and then, the course of the Muscadine was altered and she bore up for the Cyclades.