"What you can do for me, Mrs. Jones, ma'm, is to go back to your room and stay there."
"O Bo's'n!" said Cynthia, who had never been accustomed to find her presence unwelcome.
"I can only pity you, ma'm, for havin' wrecked your young life on such a wuthless scandal as him."
Cynthia started, and looked at me as if the Bo's'n knew more if he only chose to tell.
I turned to the Bo's'n, much enraged.
"Go quick, please, ma'm, I want to swear, and I can't wait many minutes." Cynthia fled. Then the Bo's'n turned to me:
"Will you pardon me, sir, if I say, 'Damn you, Mr. Jones!'?"
I gazed in amaze at the usually placid Bo's'n.
"You will have to damn the Captain, too, then," said I. "He planned the expedition, and I only helped him carry it out."
"I hope he'll come in while I'm a blasphemin'," said the Bo's'n. "I shall want him to get his full share."