“Jones,” Hi said in desperation.
“Well, Mr. Jones,” the man said, “if you’ll step along with me, I’ll see if that boat’s gone that was here. Is it your brother that you’re going to see in La Boca?”
“No.”
“Oh, I see. Not a brother, only a friend. I don’t remember the name of Jones in La Boca. What’s he doing there?”
“He’s only just gone there,” Hi said.
“Oh, a newcomer, like yourself. Well, this is the La Boca boat.”
He spoke to the master of the boat, who was putting what is called a fish in the yard of his sail.
“That man will take you to La Boca,” the man said. “He’s just going to start. If you had come to me on your way, I could have sent you off in one of the vegetable boats hours ago. Don’t give him more than two pesetas. By the way, where will you be staying at La Boca, Mr. Jones? If you or your friend should want any of these earthenware jars, I am in a position to get them as cheap as anybody. What initial did you say yours was?”
“H,” Hi said.
“And your friend’s?”