“I think you are unduly suspicious, captain. This boat must have left England before we did.”
“I’m not so sure of that. Some of these oceangoing yachts are very fast. She may be turbine-engined.”
“Can’t a sea-wise man like you tell whether she is or not by the look of her?”
“No, not from the outside. A question to one of the men would settle it.”
“Ah, here comes a waiter with the drinks. Well, my man, this is a very nice yacht you have here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Turbine engines, I suppose?”
“I don’t know, sir. The engineer would be able to tell you.”
“Yes, I suppose he would. How long is it since you left England?”
“Very sorry, sir, but I don’t remember the date. The captain or the owner would know.”