Can you hear what I say ?" "I cannot," shouted Doyle, "nor nobody could." "You can," said Meldon.

"If you couldn't, how did you answer me ?" "We can't," said the Major, shaking his head vigorously.
Meldon pulled the punt alongside the yacht, got into her and rowed towards the shore.

When he was within about ten yards of it, he swung the punt round and rested on his oars facing Doyle and Major Kent.
"Now," he said, "trot out your grievance; but speak briefly and to the point.

I can't and won't have my morning wasted.

If you meander in your statements, I shall simply row back again to the yacht and leave you there." "It's a curious thing," said Doyle, "that a gentleman like you would find a pleasure in preventing a poor man from earning his living." He spoke truculently.