'The omission of the title presumes you a criminal.' 'I don't object to the omission,' replied Drake.

'I suppose the title belongs to me by right.

But, after all, a captain in Matanga! There are more honourable titles.' Mallinson looked at him suddenly, as though some fresh idea had shot into his brain.
'Well, will you come ?' he asked carelessly.
'I hardly feel inclined to move.' 'I didn't imagine you would.' There was evidence of distinct relief in the brisk tone of Mallinson's voice.

He turned to Conway, 'We ought to be starting, I fancy.' 'I shall stay with Drake,' Conway answered, despondently to Drake's thinking, and he lapsed into silence after Mallinson's departure, broken by intervals of ineffective sarcasm concerning women, ineffectively accentuated by short jerks of laughter.

He roused himself in a while and carried Drake off to his club, where he found Hugh Fielding pulling his moustache over the _Meteor_.