And Barebone had laughed and put off his reply from day to day for three days.
Few knew of it in Farlingford, though many must have suspected the true explanation of the prolonged stay of the two strangers at the "Black Sailor." Captain Clubbe and Septimus Marvin, Dormer Colville and Monsieur de Gemosac shared this knowledge, and awaited, impatiently enough, an answer which could assuredly be only in the affirmative.
Clubbe was busy enough throughout the day at the old slip-way, where "The Last Hope" was under repair--the last ship, it appeared likely, that the rotten timbers could support or the old, old shipwrights mend.
Loo Barebone was no less regular in his attendance at the river-side, and worked all day, on deck or in the rigging, at leisurely sail-making or neat seizing of a worn rope.

He was gay, and therefore incomprehensible to a slow-thinking, grave-faced race.
"What do I want with a heritage ?" he asked, carelessly.

"I am mate of 'The Last Hope'-- and that is all.

Give me time.

I have not made up my mind yet, but I think it will be No." And oddly enough, it was Colville who preached patience to his companions in suspense.
"Give him time," he said.