"Considering that she is barely twenty-one, I said."
The Tyro rubbed his head. Was loneliness befuddling his brain? "I'm afraid I'm stupid," he apologized.
"I'm afraid your fears are well based."
"But—what's remarkable?"
"It's remarkable that you should be deaf as well as dumb," retorted the other, testily. "To resume: considering that she is barely twenty-one—not nearly, but barely twenty-one, you'll note—"
"You needn't go any further," cried the youth, suddenly enlightened. "Twenty-one is legal age on the high seas?"
"Then she's her own mistress and the captain has no more authority over her than over me?"
"So much, I have reason to believe, an eminent legal authority pointed out to the captain yesterday."
"Why didn't that same eminent authority point it out to me before?"