I put my hat on the table, and was about to say something, when the Irishman took the innings himself.

And not with marked courtesy of tone: "Well, sor, what will you have ?" I was a little disconcerted, and my easy confidence suffered a shrinkage.
The man stood as motionless as Gibraltar, and kept his unblinking eye upon me.

It was very embarrassing, very humiliating.

I stammered at a false start or two; then---- "I have just run down from----" "Av ye plaze, ye'll not smoke here, ye understand." I laid my cigar on the window-ledge; chased my flighty thoughts a moment, then said in a placating manner: "I--I have come to see Mr.Daly." "Oh, ye have, have ye ?" "Yes" "Well, ye'll not see him." "But he asked me to come." "Oh, he did, did he ?" "Yes, he sent me this note, and----" "Lemme see it." For a moment I fancied there would be a change in the atmosphere, now; but this idea was premature.

The big man was examining the note searchingly under the gas-jet.