"You tell her," said Mr. Dainopoulos, "when you arrive. Put her ashore. He'll take her. You will find plenty of friends, on arrival."
Captain Rannie received this information without ecstasy. He did not go sailing about the world in search of friends. He was very worried. Mr. Dainopoulos favoured him with another grin.
"Why not take her ashore yourself?"
Captain Rannie shrank as if from a blow.
"You're the captain," added Mr. Dainopoulos.
Captain Rannie turned on his chair, his shoulder hunched, as though to ward off an impending calamity.
"Why, I thought you liked a little fun," said Mr. Dainopoulos, surprised.
"Don't speak of it," said Captain Rannie in a stifled voice. "I make a point of never interfering. Never allude.... Purely personal...."
"Well," said his owner, in some perplexity, "please yourself. I daresay you understand what I mean. You'll have a good bit of time, you know, on arrival. You won't have coal, you know, to go very far...."
He had made no reply to this, remaining hunched up on his chair, staring fixedly at the floor. Mr. Dainopoulos had stood up, looking at him for a while.