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yourself? I'M goin' to tell you wot to write; that's my pitch; if you'll
just be so bloomin' condescendin' as to write it down! WILLIAM JOHN
ATTWATER, ESQ., SIR': he reiterated. And the captain at last beginning
half mechanically to move his pen, the dictation proceeded:
It is with feelings of shyme and 'artfelt contrition that I approach you
after the yumiliatin' events of last night. Our Mr 'Errick has left
the ship, and will have doubtless communicated to you the nature of our
'opes. Needless to s'y, these are no longer possible: Fate 'as declyred
against us, and we bow the 'ead. Well awyre as I am of the just
suspicions with w'ich I am regarded, I do not venture to solicit the
fyvour of an interview for myself, but in order to put an end to a
situytion w'ich must be equally pyneful to all, I 'ave deputed my friend
and partner, Mr J. L. Huish, to l'y before you my proposals, and w'ich
by their moderytion, Will, I trust, be found to merit your attention.
Mr J. L. Huish is entirely unarmed, I swear to Gawd! and will 'old 'is
'ands over 'is 'ead from the moment he begins to approach you. I am your
fytheful servant, John Davis.
Huish read the letter with the innocent joy of amateurs, chuckled
gustfully to himself, and reopened it more than once after it was
folded, to repeat the pleasure; Davis meanwhile sitting inert and
heavily frowning.
Of a sudden he rose; he seemed all abroad. 'No!' he cried. 'No! it can't
be! It's too much; it's damnation. God would never forgive it.'
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