Here was an opportunity to act the disinterested friend, as per maternal instructions.
"So you wanted to ask questions, did you, Captain ?" he repeated.

"Well, fire away.

Anything I can do to help you or Caroline will be a pleasure, of course.

Smoke ?" He offered the cigarette case.

The captain eyed it dubiously and shook his head.
"No," he said; "no, thank you, I commenced smokin' at the butt end, I guess.