“That's better,” said Gibbs cheerfully. “We can see to talk now.”
“What do you want, Gibbs? What brings you skulking back?”
“You're making it very difficult for me to keep my temper, Jake,” said the captain blandly. “I didn't skulk. Can't you guess why I am here?”
“No.”
“Oh, try again, Jake, you didn't half try.”
“I am too indifferent to try,” retorted Benson. “You deserve—”
“Never mind what I deserve,” interposed the captain with a touch of sullenness.
“I was merely going to observe in a general way, that a coat of tar and feathers would not be unappropriate; and Tucker had a good many friends who probably think the same.”
The captain shifted his position before the fire, but his face turned a trifle pale.
“I came here to see about my wife's property.”