“I wanted to see Mr. Skinner a moment. I'll wait. Didn't know you were busy.”
And he started to retire. Cappy checked him: “Finish with Skinner, Hankins. He'll be in consultation here with Matt and me for an hour yet.”
“I just wanted to know, Mr. Skinner, whether all those cablegrams to Captain Landry, of the Altair, are to be charged to general expense, Captain Landry's personal account, or to the Altair.”
“It seems to me you should charge them to Captain Landry, Hankins,” Mr. Skinner spoke up. “It isn't ship's business and it isn't Blue Star business. If he wants this office to cable him every day about his family—”
“Here! What's this you're talking about, Skinner?” Cappy interrupted.
“When Captain Landry sailed for Callao his wife didn't accompany him—”
“Lucky rascal! He told me he was expecting an heir.”
“And he's still expecting that heir.”
“Naturally,” Mr. Hankins explained, “he's been anxious for news; and ever since his arrival in Callao he's cabled us every other day—latterly every day—asking whether the baby has been born, and whether it's a boy or a girl.”
“A very pardonable human curiosity, my boy. Proceed.”