"Steady your helm, governor," he said.
"What are ye up to now ?" "I'm going to give you in charge." "What for ?" "For intimidation and using threatening language, and endeavouring to extort money under false pretences." "There's no witnesses," the sailor said in a half-cringing, half-defiant manner.
"Oh yes, there are," Ezra Girdlestone remarked, coming into the room.
He had been standing between the two doors which led to the counting-house, and had overheard the latter portion of the conversation.

"Don't let me interrupt you.

You were saying that you would blacken my father's character unless he increased your salary." "I didn't mean no harm," said Captain Hamilton Miggs, glancing nervously from the one to the other.

He had been fairly well known to the law in his younger days, and had no desire to renew the acquaintance.
"Who painted out those Plimsoll marks ?" asked the merchant.
"It was me." "Did any one suggest it to you ?" "No." "Shall I send in the policeman, sir ?" asked Gilray, opening the door.
"Ask him to wait for a moment," Girdlestone answered.
"And now, captain, to return to the original point, shall we dry dock the _Black Eagle_ and reduce the salary, or do you see your way to going back in her on the same terms ?" "I'll go back and be damned to it!" said the captain recklessly, plunging his hands into the pockets of his pea jacket and plumping back into his chair.
"That's right," his grim employer remarked approvingly.
"But swearing is a most sinful practice.

Send the policeman away, Ezra." The young man went out with an amused smile, and the two were left together again.
"You'll not be able to pass the Government inspector unless you do something to her," the seaman said after a long pause, during which he brooded over his wrongs.
"Of course we shall do something.