He had emerged from the main entrance of St.Katherine's Dock House a full-fledged second mate after the hottest time of his life with Captain R-, the most dreaded of the three seamanship Examiners who at the time were responsible for the merchant service officers qualifying in the Port of London.
"We all who were preparing to pass," he said, "used to shake in our shoes at the idea of going before him.

He kept me for an hour and a half in the torture chamber and behaved as though he hated me.

He kept his eyes shaded with one of his hands.

Suddenly he let it drop saying, "You will do!" Before I realised what he meant he was pushing the blue slip across the table.

I jumped up as if my chair had caught fire.
"Thank you, sir," says I, grabbing the paper.
"Good morning, good luck to you," he growls at me.
"The old doorkeeper fussed out of the cloak-room with my hat.