buttons? I seem to have brought but the one set, steward, and they are quite gone. But you need fetch only the sleeve buttons now, steward. I shan't require the others till evening.'
"'Steward!' I called as soon as I recovered. 'Wait a minute. Do you know whether the barber—I mean, steward, my watch and about twelve hundred dollars, or two hundred pounds and some over, were taken from my berth last night, steward!'
"Looked for some interest, at least out of him. But of course he was British, too.
"'Thank you, sir; very good, sir,' he acknowledged gratefully enough. 'But I must fetch this gentleman the sleeve buttons first, sir,' he corrected me.
"'But I am not asking for hot water or—or sleeve buttons, steward,' I said as calmly as I could. 'I tell you my watch and over a thousand dollars, or two hundred of your crazy pounds, were stolen from me last night.'
"'Of course, sir! And very good, sir!' he
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