“Come in,” said Stukeley. “Before old Brandynose comes aft.”
They passed aft into the cabin.
Margaret, Perrin, and Olivia were already seated when they entered. Mrs. Inigo stood behind Captain Cammock’s empty chair, waiting to take the covers. She was looking with contempt at the wife she had supplanted, thinking her a confident, pale, thin-lipped thing, and wondering what her husband could have seen in her. Captain Cammock had been delayed for a moment, having cut his chin while shaving. When Stukeley entered Perrin was talking to Olivia.
“For whom is the place there?” he was saying, nodding towards the napkin opposite to him.
“Why, we’re laid for six,” she answered.
“Yes,” said Stukeley. “Olivia, let me introduce Mr. Iles. Mr. Iles has come to give us a little music.”
Olivia, rather startled (for she had seen Mr. Iles about the decks, dressed like a seaman, and doing seaman’s work, with much foul language), glanced at the man and made a little cold bow, dropping her eyes to her plate as Mr. Iles advanced, holding out his hand.
“This is Mr. Iles, Captain Margaret.” Stukeley grinned to see Captain Margaret’s anger plainly show itself for a moment. But he had misjudged his victim’s power of self-control. Margaret’s face instantly became impassive. He stared rather hard at Mr. Iles, inclined his head in a little cold bow, and wished him “Good evening,” the only words which occurred to him, in a little cold voice.
“Hell,” said Stukeley to himself, “I ought to have introduced Perrin first. Now Pilly’ll take his cue from Maggy.”
“Mr. Perrin I think you know,” he continued aloud. “You sit over here, Mr. Iles, by me.”