He put down the tray on the table next the couch and only then said, very quietly, "I can see you are here, sir." I felt him give me a keen look, but I dared not meet his eyes just then.He must have wondered why Ihad drawn the curtains of my bed before going to sleep on the couch.
He went out, hooking the door open as usual.
I heard the crew washing decks above me.I knew I would have been told at once if there had been any wind.Calm, I thought, and I was doubly vexed.Indeed, I felt dual more than ever.
The steward reappeared suddenly in the doorway.
I jumped up from the couch so quickly that he gave a start.
"What do you want here?"
"Close your port, sir--they are washing decks.""It is closed," I said, reddening.
"Very well, sir." But he did not move from the doorway and returned my stare in an extraordinary, equivocal manner for a time.
Then his eyes wavered, all his expression changed, and in a voice unusually gentle, almost coaxingly:
"May I come in to take the empty cup away, sir?""Of course!" I turned my back on him while he popped in and out.
Then I unhooked and closed the door and even pushed the bolt.
This sort of thing could not go on very long.The cabin was as hot as an oven, too.I took a peep at my double, and discovered that he had not moved, his arm was still over his eyes; but his chest heaved; his hair was wet; his chin glistened with perspiration.
I reached over him and opened the port.
"I must show myself on deck," I reflected.
Of course, theoretically, I could do what I liked, with no one to say nay to me within the whole circle of the horizon;but to lock my cabin door and take the key away I did not dare.
Directly I put my head out of the companion I saw the group of my two officers, the second mate barefooted, the chief mate in long India-rubber boots, near the break of the poop, and the steward halfway down the poop ladder talking to them eagerly.
He happened to catch sight of me and dived, the second ran down on the main-deck shouting some order or other, and the chief mate came to meet me, touching his cap.
There was a sort of curiosity in his eye that I did not like.
I don't know whether the steward had told them that I was "queer" only, or downright drunk, but I know the man meant to have a good look at me.
I watched him coming with a smile which, as he got into point-blank range, took effect and froze his very whiskers.I did not give him time to open his lips.
"Square the yards by lifts and braces before the hands go to breakfast."It was the first particular order I had given on board that ship;and I stayed on deck to see it executed, too.I had felt the need of asserting myself without loss of time.That sneering young cub got taken down a peg or two on that occasion, and I also seized the opportunity of having a good look at the face of every foremast man as they filed past me to go to the after braces.
