"Captain Gregg – you did not!"

"Madame, it was merely a dream I unleashed on that measly miser Claymore to ensure he never tries to cheat you again!"

"He said you invited the devil's representative to tempt me, the children – and even you! – into selling our souls to, to, how dare you!"

"Ah, but Madame, at Claymore's trial, you represented flowering beauty and innocence, the best and the purest creature ever to grace a tribunal of scoundrels!"

"As opposed to you? Let me guess, 'suave, debonair, uncompromisable-if-scurrilous champion of good?'"

"Aye, and I did refuse his offer of a penthouse!"

"How very noble of you – in the dream, of course. I'm sure he included a bevy of your past conquests just to sweeten the deal. Let me guess, you turned them down after a few salacious thoughts to the contrary?"

"Mrs. Muir, they weren't real nor was Mr. Turner!"

"Real enough to you, I'm sure. All bodice-ripping goddesses from your past. You can soak your illusory head in that bird-bath Claymore just promised us."

"Fortunately, my dream-devil never proferred the offer I might readily have accepted."

"A clipper? Eternal dominion over Claymore's soul?"

"Nay, Madame. Madame? There, there, woman –"

"Daniel, I much prefer our current arrangement."

"A lifetime of this? Empty arms and unrequited love?"

"I was feeling quite requited after last night, thank you, before I learned of your incredible idea of inviting the devil into Claymore's fevered brain! I'm sorry. Just give me a moment. What I mean to say is this: I have chosen to gladly spend whatever is left of my life with incorporeal you. If you had picked now, this time and place over any chance at an eternity together, I'm not sure what I would have done. Or said, if –"

"Then I remand myself to your eternal custody!"

"So we're on for tonight? I've a little punishment of my own in mind."

"Madame! You sorely tempt me. What I would give to burn with passion in the Master Cabin with you!"

"Enough of that language. Pick another metaphor. I can only presume you must have had some prior acquaintance with visitors of Mr. Turner's ilk."

"I told him on all those different occasions, what I told him now –"

"Go on."

"I would wait 100 years, if need be, for you, the one I had searched for in every port, beyond the caresses, sighs and murmurs of the most beautiful women in my time. For you, Carolyn."