Bailey and Asaph were wildly curious.

They, of course, connected the stranger's arrival with the mysterious letter and the captain's perturbation of the day.
But their curiosity was not to be satisfied, at least not then.
"How are you, gents ?" hailed the newcomer cheerfully.

"Like the looks of me, do you ?" Captain Cy cut off further conversation.
"Ase," he said, "this--er--gentleman and I have got some business to talk over.

I know you're good enough friends of mine not to mind if I ask you to clear out.

You'll understand.