Joseph Conrad

Twixt Land and Sea Tales Joseph Conrad

Book Excerpt: ...d out quietly. I was not placated. I had the sense of having been circumvented somehow. Yet I had deceived myself--if there was any deception. But the confounded cheek of inviting himself to breakfast was enough to deceive any one. And the thought struck me: Why! The fellow had provided all these eatables himself in the way of business. I said: "You must have got up mighty early this morning."He admitted with simplicity that he was on the quay before six o'clock waiting for my ship to come in. He gave me the impression that it would be impossible to get rid of him now."If you think we are going to live on that scale," I said, looking at the table with an irritated eye, "you are jolly well mistaken.""You'll find it all right, Captain. I quite understand."Nothing could disturb his equanimity. I felt dissatisfied, but I could not very well fly out at him. He had told me many useful things--and besides he was the brother of that wealthy merchant. That seemed queer enough. I rose..