“My leave ashore is for good, as far as your old barkee goes,” growled the Canadian sailor.
“You have deserted, then?” inquired the officer, regarding him intently.
“Call it what you like,” said Blake. “It all comes to the same thing.”
Here Danvers signed for the seaman to go back into the supper room; when the man had done so the emissary of the British government advanced calmly to the fire.
“I would scarcely style Blake’s little escapade desertion,” spoke he, easily, as he held his white, strong-looking hands over the blaze. “You see, he entered on the books of your ship at my request. It was only intended that he should sail with you to Nantes.”
“I am quite aware of that,” answered John Paul Jones, leaning back in his chair and clasping his hands behind his head.
The Englishman seemed surprised.
“Indeed!” said he.
“I am also aware that the Lascar, Siki, was in your pay.”
“You are a person of considerable penetration,” said Danvers, bowing politely.