That's it. William John Hattwater, Esq., Sir': he dictated

'How do you know his name is William John?' asked Davis.

'Saw it on a packing case,' said Huish. 'Got that?'

'No,' said Davis. 'But there's another thing. What are we to

write?'

'O my golly!' cried the exasperated Huish. 'Wot kind of man

do YOU call yourself? I'M goin' to tell you wot to write; that's

my pitch; if you'll just be so bloomin' condescendin' as to write

it down! WILLIAM JOHN ATTWATER, ESQ., SIR': he reiterated. And

the captain at last beginning half mechanically to move his pen,

the dictation proceeded:

It is with feelings of shyme and 'artfelt contrition that I

approach you after the yumiliatin' events of last night. Our Mr

'Errick has left the ship, and will have doubtless communicated

to you the nature of our 'opes. Needless to s'y, these are no

longer possible: Fate 'as declyred against us, and we bow the

'ead. Well awyre as I am of the just suspicions with w'ich I am

regarded, I do not venture to solicit the fyvour of an interview

for myself, but in order to put an end to a situytion w'ich must

be equally pyneful to all, I 'ave deputed my friend and partner,

Mr J. L. Huish, to l'y before you my proposals, and w'ich by

their moderytion, Will, I trust, be found to merit your

attention. Mr J. L. Huish is entirely unarmed, I swear to Gawd!

and will 'old 'is 'ands over 'is 'ead from the moment he begins

to approach you. I am your fytheful servant, John Davis.

Huish read the letter with the innocent joy of amateurs,

chuckled gustfully to himself, and reopened it more than once

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>