"Speak out, by all means, Captain."
"As you insist, I will do so. Your reputation among the respectable people of Funchal, where you go occasionally in your steamer, is so bad, so black, that I should not be justified in introducing you to any true lady," replied the commander boldly and resolutely, hoping this plain statement would put an end to the attempts of the Moor to force himself into the presence of his cabin party.
"This is an unmitigated insult, and I hold you responsible for it, Captain Ringgold!" roared the Pacha, loud enough to be heard on board of the Guardian-Mother. "A friend of mine will wait upon you to-morrow, sir!"
"In advance I decline to receive either you or any friend of yours. I think it is time to terminate this interview."
"You are a coward, sir!"
"I have nothing more to say."
"But I have. You have interfered with my affairs. You have on board of your steamer a young fellow who ran away from my service," continued Noury more calmly as he came down to business. "His name is Scott."
"Scott is my apprentice, bound to me by his father in writing: and when he was seen in Funchal, he was taken and brought back."
"Very well; let that pass. This little steamer was stolen from me by the engineer I employed."
"But she was restored to you, made fast to the Fatimé at this mole," replied the captain. "You took possession of her again, and then sold her to a man by the name of Giles Chickworth."