More than I do," he would repeat, seriously, with innocent pride in his honest eyes.
From the safe elevation of his commercial successes Willems patronized Lingard.

He had a liking for his benefactor, not unmixed with some disdain for the crude directness of the old fellow's methods of conduct.
There were, however, certain sides of Lingard's character for which Willems felt a qualified respect.

The talkative seaman knew how to be silent on certain matters that to Willems were very interesting.
Besides, Lingard was rich, and that in itself was enough to compel Willems' unwilling admiration.

In his confidential chats with Hudig, Willems generally alluded to the benevolent Englishman as the "lucky old fool" in a very distinct tone of vexation; Hudig would grunt an unqualified assent, and then the two would look at each other in a sudden immobility of pupils fixed by a stare of unexpressed thought.
"You can't find out where he gets all that india-rubber, hey Willems ?" Hudig would ask at last, turning away and bending over the papers on his desk.
"No, Mr.Hudig.Not yet.

But I am trying," was Willems' invariable reply, delivered with a ring of regretful deprecation.
"Try! Always try! You may try! You think yourself clever perhaps," rumbled on Hudig, without looking up.