"Sit down."

I glanced at it casually, then, turning my indignant eyes full upon
him, I declared in precise and incisive tones that I had called in
obedience to my owners' instructions.

"Oh! Yes. H'm! I didn't understand what that fool was saying. .
. . But never mind! It will teach the scoundrel to disturb me at
this time of the day," he added, grinning at me with savage
cynicism.

I looked at my watch. It was past three o'clock--quite the full
swing of afternoon office work in the port. He snarled
imperiously: "Sit down, Captain."

I acknowledged the gracious invitation by saying deliberately:

"I can listen to all you may have to say without sitting down."

Emitting a loud and vehement "Pshaw!" he glared for a moment, very
round-eyed and fierce. It was like a gigantic tomcat spitting at
one suddenly. "Look at him! . . . What do you fancy yourself to
be? What did you come here for? If you won't sit down and talk
business you had better go to the devil."

"I don't know him personally," I said. "But after this I wouldn't
mind calling on him. It would be refreshing to meet a gentleman."

He followed me, growling behind my back: