‘A pity!’ said he. ‘If you had a sister and she resembled you, she would be----’ He glanced at Frank, who was grinning, checked his speech with a face of contempt, and addressing me again, exclaimed: ‘I hear they are gradually making discoveries about you!’ This startled me, and I may have looked at him earnestly. ‘Oh,’ said he, smiling, ‘nothing’s been found out that’s going to bring you into trouble; on the contrary, you prove much more respectable than you seemed to wish us to believe, when you were dug up out of that hole forward. Your father was a sea-captain--the sea is a very honest calling. But why should you run away from your home to become a cuddy under-steward? There’s no ambition in that, my lad, is there?’ He cast another look of contempt at Frank. ‘Unless, indeed, you were for carrying out the old-established notions of the story-writers who are always sending their runaway heroes to sea as cabin-boys.’ At this moment, Captain Barrett, who was on the poop, overhearing the subaltern’s voice, called to him, and Lieutenant Chimmo went up the ladder. ‘I should like to be talked about as you are,’ said Frank. ‘Dot means dey know you vhas a shentleman. You vill find dot dey do not talk about me. I fonder dot they doan give you some verk your little handts vhas more fit for dan vashing plates.’ ‘I wish they would not talk about me,’ said I. ‘I am comfortable and content. I wish to travel to Tasmania in my own way. I earn my food. I shan’t receive a shilling for my services. Why will they talk?’ ‘Dere vhas something about you, Marlowe,’ said Frank, ‘dot oxcites and puzzles them. She oxcites and puzzles me too. What vhas it? Potsblitz! I likes to talk about you myself if I meets mit any one dot vill talk about you likewise.’ He was proceeding in this strain when my cousin Will came along the gangway alley. All the convicts were below at supper. Nobody was on the main-deck but the sentry at the hatch. A number of seamen were assembled on the forecastle, and amongst them were a few of the guard. At the break of that raised fore-deck stalked the sentinel, and his bayonet gleamed in the sun as though wet with blood. ‘Marlowe,’ said my cousin, halting at a distance, ‘come forward and I’ll give you the things I promised you.’ And having said this he walked away as though he had condescended enough. And he was wise to treat me so, for on stepping out of the recess and turning my head I saw the captain and the doctor and the two officers of the guard standing at the rail in conversation. I followed my cousin to his cabin. He had entered before me, and when I arrived I found him alone. ‘I shan’t call you Marian any more,’ said he. ‘Suppose I should be overheard? And I’ll not call you Simon either. Why didn’t you ship as Jack or Bill? Take now what you want, and when you have shifted give me your soiled clothes and I’ll get them washed.’ He raised the lid of his chest, and I took a flannel shirt and such other apparel as I needed.