“As to that, sir, you are right, and yet wrong. She was a packet, and (if I may say it) a famous one.” His gaze travelled aloft, and descending rested on mine with a sort of gentle resignation. “But the old pennon is down, as you see. At present she sails on a private adventure, and under private commission.”
“A privateer?”
“You may call it that.”
“The adventure hits my humour even more nicely. Accept me, Captain——”
“Colenso.”
“Accept me, Captain Colenso, for your passenger: I will not say comrade-in-arms—naval warfare being so far beyond my knowledge, which it would perhaps be more descriptive to call ignorance. But I can pay—” I thrust a hand nervously into my breast-pocket, and blessed Flora for her waterproof bag. “Excuse me, Captain, if I speak with my friend here in private for a moment.”
I drew Byfield aside. “Your notes? The salt water——”
“You see,” said he, “I am a martyr to acidity of the stomach.”
“Man! do I invite the confidence of your stomach?”