He shook hands very affectionate, sir, at parting, an' hoped to have
your company again before long."
"Did he so? Did he so?" said Captain Crang. "And--er--could you at
the same time call to mind what I answered?"
Mr. Jope looked down modestly. "Well, sir, having my hands full at
the time wi' this here little lot, I dunno as I can remember
precisely. Was it something about the theayter, Bill?" he demanded,
turning to Mr. Adams.
"It wor," answered Mr. Adams sturdily.
"And as how you'd never shipped a crew o' playactors afore, but you'd
do your best?"
"Either them very words or to that effect," confirmed Mr. Adams,
breathing hard and staring defiantly at the horizon.
"The theatre? . . . I was at the theatre?" Captain Crang passed a
shaking hand over his brow. "No, damme! . . . and yet I remember now
at dinner I heard the Duke say--"
Here it was Captain Crang's turn to stare dumbfounded at an
apparition, as a pair of handcuffed wrists thrust themselves up
through the main hatchway and were painfully followed by the rest of
Mr. Orlando B. Sturge.
"Oh, good Lord! Look! Is the ship full of 'em?" shouted the
Captain.
"They ain't real," murmured Mr. Wapshott soothingly. "You'll get
accustomed. They began by being frogs," he explained, with the
initiatory air of an elder brother, and waved a feeble hand. "Eggs--
if you'll 'low me, sir, to conclude--egg-sisting in the 'magination
only.
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