Chapter 29

Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.

LEAR.

The barbarians had done much less injury to the ship and her contents than
under the circumstances could have been reasonably hoped. The fact that
nothing could be effectually landed where she lay was probably the cause,
the bales that had actually been got out of the ship, having been put upon
the bank with a view to lighten her, more than for any other reason. The
compact, too, between the chiefs had its influence probably, though it
could not have lasted long with so strong temptations to violate it
constantly before the eyes of men habitually rapacious.

Of course, one of the first things after each individual had ascertained
his own losses, was to inquire into those of his neighbours, and the usual
party in the ladies' cabin was seated around the sofa of Eve, about nine
in the evening, conversing on this topic, after having held a short but
serious discourse on their recent escape.

"You tell me, John, that Mr. Monday has a desire to sleep?" observed Mr.
Effingham, in the manner in which one puts an interrogation.

"He is easier, and dozes. I have left my man with him, with orders to
summon me the instant he awakes."

A melancholy pause succeeded, and then the discourse took the channel from
which it had been diverted.

"Is the extent of our losses in effects known?" asked Mr. Sharp. "My man
reports some trifling _deficit_, but nothing of any value."

"Your counterfeit," returned Eve, smiling, "has been the principal
sufferer. One would think by his plaints, that not a toy is left in
Christendom."

"So long as they have not stolen from him his good name, I shall not
complain, as I may have some use for it when we reach America, of which
now, God be praised! there are some flattering prospects."

"I understand from my connexions that the person who is known in the main
cabin as Sir George Templemore, is not the person who is known as such in
this," observed John Effingham, bowing to Mr. Sharp, who returned his
salute as one acknowledges an informal introduction. "There are certainly
weak men to be found in high stations all over the world, but you will
probably think I am doing honour to my own sagacity, when I say, that I
suspected from the first that he was not the true Amphitryon. I had heard
of Sir George Templemore, and had been taught to expect more in him than
even a man of fashion--a man of the world--while this poor substitute can
scarcely claim to be either."

John Effingham so seldom complimented that his kind words usually told,
and Mr. Sharp acknowledged the politeness, more gratified than he was
probably