‘Salutation, shipmate.’
Then we unclasped, and he returned to his post by the fireplace with the same exaggeration of action as before.
The old man broke a short silence. ‘Well, Marmaduke, why have you brought this boy here?’
The Captain motioned me to a seat, which I took, and sat back himself in his former place.
‘Because the boy is going with me, and I thought that you might have something to say to him before he went.’
‘Something to say to him?’
The old man repeated the words like a sneer, then he faced on me again and addressed me with an unmoving face.
‘Yes, I have something to say to you. Young man, you are going on a fool’s errand.’
Captain Marmaduke laughed a little at this, but I could see that he was not pleased.