I made some suitable answer, and, settling down in his seat, he pulled off with the smooth, easy stroke of a practised oarsman. I stood and watched him till he reached the mouth of the creek, where he waved his hand to me before disappearing round the bend. Then I walked across to Satan, who was sitting by himself on the edge of the jetty staring resentfully after the vanished boat.
"It's no good looking like that," I said. "If you had been a little more civil you would probably have been included in the invitation."
I think he understood what I meant, for, rising to his feet with a disdainful expression, he strolled off ahead of me in the direction of the house. There were evidently some subjects on which he regarded humour as being completely out of place.
When I arrived back I found Bascomb clearing away the breakfast things.
"I am going up to town by the twelve-forty," I said. "I suppose I can get a trap at the inn to take me to Torrington?"
He nodded his head.
"They'll run you over right enough," he replied. "Mebbe I'd better slip across an' tell 'em though; they might be fixin' up with another party otherwise." He paused. "Are you comin' back to-night?" he enquired.
"No," I said, "I have got some business with Mr. Drayton. I shall probably be down to-morrow, but if not I'll let you know."
He finished clearing up and collected the debris on to a tray.
"'Ow about visitors?" he enquired. "I s'pose you don't want no one on the island, not while you're away?"