Glossin rose, opened the door, so that from the chair in which his prisoner sate he might satisfy himself there was no eavesdropper within hearing, then shut it, resumed his seat, and repeated his question, 'You are Dirk Hatteraick, formerly of the Yungfrauw Haagenslaapen, are you not ?' 'Tousand deyvils! and if you know that, why ask me ?' said the prisoner.
'Because I am surprised to see you in the very last place where you ought to be, if you regard your safety,' observed Glossin, coolly.
'Der deyvil! no man regards his own safety that speaks so to me!' 'What?
unarmed, and in irons! well said, Captain!' replied Glossin, ironically.

'But, Captain, bullying won't do; you'll hardly get out of this country without accounting for a little accident that happened at Warroch Point a few years ago.' Hatteraick's looks grew black as midnight.
'For my part,' continued Glossin, 'I have no particular wish to be hard upon an old acquaintance; but I must do my duty.

I shall send you off to Edinburgh in a post-chaise and four this very day.' 'Poz donner! you would not do that ?' said Hatteraick, in a lower and more humbled tone; 'why, you had the matter of half a cargo in bills on Vanbeest and Vanbruggen.' 'It is so long since, Captain Hatteraick,' answered Glossin, superciliously, 'that I really forget how I was recompensed for my trouble.' 'Your trouble?
your silence, you mean.' 'It was an affair in the course of business,' said Glossin, 'and I have retired from business for some time.' 'Ay, but I have a notion that I could make you go steady about and try the old course again,' answered Dirk Hatteraick.

'Why, man, hold me der deyvil, but I meant to visit you and tell you something that concerns you.' 'Of the boy ?' said Glossin, eagerly.
'Yaw, Mynheer,' replied the Captain, coolly.
'He does not live, does he ?' 'As lifelich as you or I,' said Hatteraick.
'Good God! But in India ?' exclaimed Glossin.
'No, tousand deyvils, here! on this dirty coast of yours,' rejoined the prisoner.
'But, Hatteraick, this,--that is, if it be true, which I do not believe,--this will ruin us both, for he cannot but remember your neat job; and for me, it will be productive of the worst consequences! It will ruin us both, I tell you.' 'I tell you,' said the seaman, 'it will ruin none but you; for I am done up already, and if I must strap for it, all shall out.' 'Zounds,' said the Justice impatiently, 'what brought you back to this coast like a madman ?' 'Why, all the gelt was gone, and the house was shaking, and I thought the job was clayed over and forgotten,' answered the worthy skipper.
'Stay; what can be done ?' said Glossin, anxiously.

'I dare not discharge you; but might you not be rescued in the way?
Ay sure! a word to Lieutenant Brown, and I would send the people with you by the coast-road.' 'No, no! that won't do.