“Ye-es.”
“I see. From Mrs. Fosdick, of course. She said she was going to write—I'm not sure she didn't say she had written; but I had the impression it was to—well, to another member of your family, Captain Snow.”
“No, 'twas to me. Come this mornin's mail.”
“I see. My mistake. Well, I'm obliged to her in a way. If the news has been broken to you, I shan't have to break it and we can get down to brass tacks just so much sooner. The surprise being over—I take it, it WAS a surprise, Captain?”
“You take it right. Just as much of a surprise to me as you.”
“Of course. Well, the surprise being over for both of us, we can talk of the affair—calmly and coolly. What do you think about it, Captain?”
“Oh, I don't know as I know exactly what to think. What do YOU think about it, Mr. Fosdick?”
“I think—I imagine I think very much as you do.”
“I shouldn't be surprised. And—er—what's your notion of what I think?”
Captain Zelotes' gray eye twinkled as he asked the question, and the Fosdick blue eye twinkled in return. Both men laughed.