"The captain's room? Where is the captain?"
"How am I to know where he is or where he ain't? He don't tell me none of his goings on, none of you don't. He says to me he'd be four or five days away. That's all I know about it. Times is changed!"
"Got the key?"
"Of course I've got the key."
"Then hand it over."
The old woman produced a key from a voluminous pocket in her dress.
"Now, Freddy, none of your tricks? He's on the square?"
She pointed the key at Bertie, to show the allusion was to him. The young thief took the key away from her.
"He's as square as you! Come along, Ikey! Mother, you stop there till I come back. I want to have a little talk to you."
Taking up one of the candlesticks, the lad led the way out of the room. Bertie staggered, rather than walked, after him.