"You appear to enjoy the affair?"
"I do. I've never had such a good time. I'm not going to spoil it by
suggesting that you lock up anybody, either."
"I'm sorry you feel that way," said the captain seriously.
"But I do. They're friends of mine. They've given me the time of my
life. A dirty trick I'd be serving myself as well as them if I came to
you and preferred charges against them!"
The captain inspected him curiously for a few moments, then, in a soft
voice: "By any chance, Mr. Neeland, have you any Irish blood in your veins?"
"Yes, thank God!" returned the young fellow, unable to control his
laughter. "And I'll bet there isn't a drop in you, Captain West."
"Not a drop, thank G--I'm sorry!--I ask your pardon, Mr. Neeland!"
added the captain, very red in the face.
But Neeland laughed so hard that, after a moment, the red died out in
the captain's face and a faint grin came into it.
So they shook hands and said good night; and Neeland went away,
leaving his box on the floor of the captain's cabin as certain of its
inviolability as he was of the Bank of England.