I want to see Mr. Powell, please,' I said, very civil but firm; I would
let nothing scare me away now. This was the Shipping Office right
enough. It was after 3 o'clock and the business seemed over for the day
with them. The long-necked fellow went on with his writing steadily. I
observed that he was no longer grinning. The three others tossed their
heads all together towards the far end of the room where a fifth man had
been looking on at their antics from a high stool. I walked up to him as
boldly as if he had been the devil himself. With one foot raised up and
resting on the cross-bar of his seat he never stopped swinging the other
which was well clear of the stone floor. He had unbuttoned the top of
his waistcoat and he wore his tall hat very far at the back of his head.
He had a full unwrinkled face and such clear-shining eyes that his grey
beard looked quite false on him, stuck on for a disguise. You said just
now he resembled Socrates--didn't you? I don't know about that. This
Socrates was a wise man, I believe?"
"He was," assented Marlow. "And a true friend of youth. He lectured
them in a peculiarly exasperating manner. It was a way he had."
"Then give me Powell every time," declared our new acquaintance sturdily.
"He didn't lecture me in any way. Not he. He said: 'How do you do?'
quite kindly to my mumble. Then says he looking very hard at me: 'I
don't think I know you--do I?' "No, sir,"
I said and down went my heart sliding into my boots, just as
the time had come to summon up all my cheek. There's nothing meaner in
the world than a piece of impudence that isn't carried off well. For
fear of appearing shamefaced I started about it so free and easy as
almost to frighten myself. He listened for a while looking at my face
with surprise and curiosity and then held up his hand. I was glad enough
to shut up, I can tell you.
"Well, you are a cool hand," says he. "And that friend of yours too. He
pestered me coming here every day for a fortnight till a captain I'm
acquainted with was good enough to give him a berth. And no sooner he's
provided for than he turns you on. You youngsters don't seem to mind
whom you get into trouble."
"It was my turn now to stare with surprise and curiosity. He hadn't been
talking loud but he lowered his voice still more.