“One moment!” snapped Iff, rising. “If you were an older man,” he said stiffly, “and a smaller, I’d pull your impertinent nose, sir! As things stand, I’d probably get my head punched if I did.”
“That’s sound logic,” returned Manvers with a sneer.
“Well, then, sir? What do you want with me?”
Manvers changed his attitude to one of sardonic civility. “The captain sent me to ask you if you would be kind enough to step up to his cabin,” he said stiltedly. “May I hope you will be good enough to humour him?”
“Most assuredly,” Iff picked up his steamer-cap and set it jauntily upon his head. “Might one enquire the cause of all this-here fluster?”
“I daresay the captain—”
“Oh, very well. If you won’t talk, my dear purser, I’ll hazard a shrewd guess—by your leave.”
The purser stared. “What’s that?”
“I was about to say,” pursued Iff serenely, “that I’ll lay two to one that the Cadogan collar has disappeared.”
Manvers continued to stare, his eyes blank with amazement. “You’ve got your nerve with you, I must say,” he growled.