Riddell had rather hoped the boy would refer to the subject first, but he did not. Riddell therefore said, “I was sorry to see you down in Shellport this afternoon, Wyndham. You hadn’t a permit, had you?”
“No,” said Wyndham.
“It’s hardly the thing, is it?” said the captain, quietly, after a pause.
His voice, devoid of all anger or self-importance, made Wyndham still more uncomfortable.
“I’m awfully sorry,” said he. “I suppose I oughtn’t to have gone. I beg your pardon, Riddell.”
“Oh!” said Riddell, “don’t do that, please.”
“You know,” said Wyndham, “as those two took me, it didn’t seem to be much harm. We only went to see the steamer come in.”
“The thing is,” said Riddell, “it was against the rules.”
“But Gilks and Silk are both monitors, aren’t they?”
“They are,” said the captain, with a touch of bitterness in his tone.