"No; I will tell you a better plan than that. I am not going to waste my
time reading it."

"Waste, indeed!"

"Certainly waste. Not when I have a much better plan of finding out what
is in the book. I am going to get you to tell me the story after you
have read it."

"Oh, indeed, and suppose I refuse?"

"Will you?"

"Well, I don't know. I only said suppose."

"Then I shall spend the rest of the voyage trying to persuade you."

"I am not very easily persuaded, Mr. Morris."

"I believe that," said the young man. "I presume I may sit beside you
while you are reading your book?"

"You certainly may, if you wish to. The deck is not mine, only that
portion of it, I suppose, which I occupy with the steamer chair. I have
no authority over any of the rest."

"Now, is that a refusal or an acceptance?"

"It is which ever you choose to think."