"My father was a clergyman," I answered.
"Yes, sir, that is very good. Your speech tells me you are genteel. To speak English well you must be genteel. Education will enable you to speak English grammatically, but it will not help you to pronounce it properly. For example, a man vulgarly born, who is educated too, will omit his h's, and he will neglect his g's. He will say nothin', and he will say 'ouse instead of house. Yes, I know it—I know it," said he, smiling. "Well, you shall tell me now all about your adventure."
This I did. He occasionally stopped me while he interpreted to his companion, who listened to him with eager attention, while he would also strain his ears with his eyes sternly fixed upon my face when I spoke. When I had made an end, Don Christoval drew Captain Dopping to him by a backward motion of his head, and, after addressing him in low tones, he took Don Lazarillo's arm, and the pair of them fell to patrolling the deck.
"We shall sling a hammock for you under the main hatch," said Captain Dopping, walking up to me. "Sorry we can't accommodate you aft. There's scarce room for a rat in my corner, let alone two men."
"Any part of the schooner will serve to sling a hammock in for me," said I.
"You will take your meals with me in the cabin," said he. "I eat when the two gentlemen have done."
"Where does your mate live?" said I.
"I have no mate," he answered. "We were in a hurry, and could not find a man."
He eyed me somewhat oddly as he spoke, as though to mark the effect of his words.
"But is there no one to help you to keep a look-out?"