The exclamation cleverly conveyed the impression that he perceived the guest for the first time, and apologized for not being prepared to meet him.
"Jack, this is Lloyd's deputy inspector, Mr. ——?" Jerry began, and stopped with an interrogative inflection.
"My name, sir, 's Tom Mainbrace."
"Mr. Thomas Mainbrace," Jerry concluded his presentation. "Mr. Mainbrace, Captain Castleport."
"Pleased to know ye, cap'n," the Englishman said cheerfully, as Jack bowed. "Yes, sir; I'm Lloyd's deputy inspector."
"I saw your boat alongside," Jack returned pleasantly. "We haven't any deputies aboard that need inspecting, though."
"'Aven't ye?" the visitor asked, his eyes twinkling so that the laugh with which he followed his words seemed a sort of overflow of their merriment. "I kind o' thought there might be a deputy owner or som'thin' o' the sort 'ere."
Jack apparently tried to look grave, but ended by grinning in spite of himself. He put out his hand and laid his fingers on the papers.
"You have business with us?" he asked.