"Sir," he replied with dignity, "I perceive that I have been
unfortunate enough to give you a wrong notion of my character.
Let me say that, in interpreting my duty, I am even less likely to be
coerced by threats than by the strict letter of the law. I will not
be dragooned. And I decide nothing until you have opened that door."
"And that's mighty well said," commented Dr. Beckerleg.
Captain Jemmy slipped back the bolt.
"I shall nevertheless hold you to account," he growled.
"Thank you; I am accustomed to responsibility. And now let me say
that as the child seems to be in good hands--"
"On the contrary, he's in outrageously bad ones."
"--Or rather, in the hands of an upright and kindly gentleman, I
think we may perhaps agree that these rumours about Captain Salt
are--shall we say?--too good to be true. May I ask Dr. Beckerleg
here if he believes in ghosts?"
"Firmly," answered the Doctor, hiding a smile.
"I have known occasions," the attorney went on, with a serious face,
"when a cautious belief in ghosts has proved of the very highest
service in dealing with apparently intractable problems. Or suppose
we call it an hypothesis, liable to correction?"
"That's it," assented the Captain heartily. "I can believe Roderick
Salt to be a ghost until he comes to me and proves that he is not.
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