Funny, isn't it ?" "Funny! It's a meracle!" Though not altogether gratified by this whole-hearted agreement with his own views, Verity was too anxious to keep his hearer on the present tack to resent any implied slur on his earlier efforts as a caterer.
"It's nothing to wot I'd do if I could afford it," he added graciously.
"But, as you said, let's look at the fax.

Wot chance 'as an iron ship, built twenty years ago, at a cost of sixteen pound a ton, ag'in a steel ship of to-day, at seven pound a ton, with twiced the cargo space, an' three feet less draught?
W'y no earthly.

We're dished every way.

We cost more to run; we can't jump 'arf the bars; we can't carry 'arf the stuff; we pay double insurance; an' we're axed to find interest on more'n double the capital.

As you say, Jimmie, wot bloomin' chanst 'ave we ?" Coke smoked silently; he had said none of these things, but when the shipowner's glance suddenly dwelt on him, he nodded.