"You will oblige me by producing your papers, Captain Sawlock,"
continued Mr. Birdwing.

"For a good reason, my papers are not regular," answered the captain of
the Ionian, with an attempt to be more affable, though it did not seem
to be in his nature to be anything but a brute in his manners.

"Regular or not, you will oblige me by exhibiting them," the officer
insisted.

"It is not my fault that a change was made in my orders after I got
under way," pleaded Captain Sawlock.

"Will you produce your clearance and other papers?" demanded the
lieutenant very decidedly.

"This is an American vessel, and you have no right to overhaul me in
this manner," growled the captain of the steamer.

"You are in command of a steamer, and you cannot be so ignorant as to
believe that an officer of a man-of-war has not the right to require you
to show your papers," added Mr. Birdwing with a palpable sneer.

"This is an American vessel," repeated Captain Sawlock.

"Then why did you hoist the British flag?"

"That's my business!"