"He's an insurance agent at Hammersmith."
"That's somewhere in London, ain't it?"
"Yes. I'm a Londoner."
"Oh, are you? Yes, I thought so."
"Why did you think so?" asked Durrant.
"Because I know you come from Liverpool."
"You're trying to be funny!"
"Oh, no, I'm not! It's you who always tries to be funny, young fellow. You sat with me here, in my cabin, last night, and yet to-day you deny having done so."
Gerald rose from his chair, intending to firmly withstand the black-bearded fellow's ridiculous allegations, but at that instant he felt that same half-intoxication creeping over him, and he subsided.
"Captain Bowden, I'm sorry to tell you that I honestly think you are lying to me," he said a moment later.