"
A quarter of an hour later Major Kent hailed Meldon again; this time he
had Doyle with him on the shore. Meldon sat up on his life-buoy, and
leaned both elbows on the boom.
"That's right, Major," he shouted. "You've brought him down. Just
stay where you are. I won't keep you long. Now then, Doyle! I
understand that you are in an abominably bad temper about something,
and have come down here with the intention of working it off on me. I
may tell you that I don't at all care for being interrupted while I'm
meditating; and as a general rule I simply refuse to do any business
until I've finished. However, as you're an old friend, I'm making an
exception in your case. Can you hear what I say?"
"I cannot," shouted Doyle, "nor nobody could."
"You can," said Meldon. "If you couldn't, how did you answer me?"
"We can't," said the Major, shaking his head vigorously.
Meldon pulled the punt alongside the yacht, got into her and rowed
towards the shore. When he was within about ten yards of it, he swung
the punt round and rested on his oars facing Doyle and Major Kent.
"Now," he said, "trot out your grievance; but speak briefly and to the
point.
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