Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/187

 I takes a pride in my business, same as you might in yours. That's why I went round the world."

"Oh, you've been round the world, have you?" said the captain.

"Not once nor twice, but many times, and do you know why?"

"Perhaps the life of the get-rich-quick buccaneers appealed to you?" remarked Captain Collyer casually.

"There you go—suspicious. Can't you adapt yourself for five minutes? Can't you make an effort when you're a-gossipin' with honest folk to forget that there is dishonest ones? I never did see the like. Here we be chattin' quite friendly, and forgettin' our little differences, when you starts accusin' me of bein' a Captain Clegg or an England. Do I look like a bold pirate now? Lookin' at me straight sittin' up in this 'ere coffin, could you say that I looked like a swaggerin' gentleman o' fortune. No, you couldn't. Very well, then, why go and make unpleasant insinuations against a respectable sexton o' the realm? Mind you, I don't say as how I didn't come across some of that breed durin' my travels, and I don't say as how circumstance, that fickle woman, didn't at times make me work for 'em. But not for long. I held no sort o' likes with the likes o' them, and though some of 'em had most engagin' ways, it was easy to see that they was all of 'em unadulterated sinners. And swear? God bless your eyes,