“That’s certainly a very genteel speech,” I said; “and perhaps the British Consul at your port of destination will have something to say regarding your conduct.”
“I don’t care a brass button for all the blanked consuls in the whole Consular Service,” he replied, with a coarse laugh. “You are on board my ship, and I’ll give you to understand now, once and for all, that I’m master here.”
“Perhaps you’ll pipe to a different tune when your master’s certificate is suspended for a year or two.”
“It ’ud take a better man than you to suspend it. While you’re on board this craft, it’ll be a wise policy to keep a still tongue in your head.”
“And it will be wiser if you allow me my liberty, and just tell me how and why I came aboard here.”
“You were brought here, but for what reason I don’t know.”
“And who brought me here?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t on board when you arrived.”
“The ship was lying in the Thames, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” he answered. “It wasn’t on Clapham Common, that’s a certainty.”