“Ladies and gentlemen!” I said, “there is no one overboard that I am aware of. Why do you ask me?”
“Hilloa, Mister!” cried the cause of all this confusion, “didn’t you tell me—?”
“I told you nothing.”
“But didn’t I ask you if thar wan’t some one overboard?”
“You did.”
“And you said in reply—”
“I said nothing in reply.”
“Darned if you didn’t! you said ‘Thar she is!’ or, ‘It was she!’ or something o’ that sort.”
I turned towards the speaker, who I perceived was rather losing credit with his auditory.
“Mister!” said I, imitating his tone, “it is evident you have never heard of the man who grew immensely rich by minding his own business.”