"Silent be," says Dick. "It was the cat," and thus reassured they start for the boat which is to take the lovers ashore. At this crisis the Captain throws off the cloak and creates a sensation. He is so mad he swears just as Sir Joseph puts in an appearance.
"What was that dreadful language I heard you use?" Sir Joseph demands, highly scandalized.
"He said 'damme,'" the crew assure him. Sir Joseph is completely overcome. To excuse himself the Captain is obliged to reveal the cause of his anger.
"My daughter was about to elope with a common sailor, your Greatness," he says, and at this moment Josephine rushes into the arms of Ralph. The Admiral is again overcome with the impropriety of the situation.
"My amazement and my surprise, you may learn from the expression of my eyes," the Admiral says. "Has this sailor dared to lift his eyes to the Captain's daughter? Incredible. Put him in chains, my boys," he says to the rest of the crew, "and Captain--have you such a thing as a dungeon on board?"
"Certainly," the Captain says. "Hanging on the nail to the right of the mess-room door--just as you go in."
"Good! put him in the ship's dungeon at once--just as you go in--and see that no telephone communicates with his cell," whereupon Ralph is lugged off.
"When the secret I have to tell is known," says Little Buttercup, "his dungeon cell will be thrown wide."
"Then speak, in Heaven's name; or I certainly shall throw myself into the bilge water," Josephine says desperately.
"Don't do that: it smells so dreadfully," Buttercup entreats; "and to prevent accidents I will tell what I know:"
A many years ago, When I was young and charming, As some of you may know, I practised baby farming.
Two tender babes I nursed, One was of low condition, The other upper crust-- A regular patrician.
Oh, bitter is my cup, However could I do it? I mixed those children up, And not a creature knew it.
In time each little waif, Forsook his foster-mother; The well-born babe was Ralph-- Your Captain was the other!
So, the murder is out! Nobody outside of comic opera can quite see how this fact changes the status of the Captain and Ralph (the Captain not having been a captain when in the cradle) but it is quite enough to set everybody by the ears. Josephine screams: