The head having appeared, the body soon followed it, though all in the same anaconda-like style of progression, until the individual stood revealed.

He was a stoutly-built sea-faring man, dressed in a pea jacket and blue trousers and holding his tarpaulin hat in his hand.

With a rough scrape and a most unpleasant leer he advanced towards the merchant, a tattoed and hairy hand outstretched in sign of greeting.
"Why, captain," said the head of the firm, rising and grasping the other's hand with effusion, "I am glad to see you back safe and well." "Glad to see ye, sir--glad to see ye." His voice was thick and husky, and there was an indecision about his gait as though he had been drinking heavily.

"I came in sort o' cautious," he continued, "'cause I didn't know who might be about.
When you and me speaks together we likes to speak alone, you bet." The merchant raised his bushy eyebrows a little, as though he did not relish the idea of mutual confidences suggested by his companion's remark.

"Hadn't you better take a seat ?" he said.
The other took a cane-bottomed chair and carried it into the extreme corner of the office.