They always do.

But he looked very hard at me before he ventured to ask in a sort of timid whisper: "Got through all right, sir ?" For all answer I dropped a half-crown into his soft broad palm.

"Well," says he with a sudden grin from ear to ear, "I never knew him keep any of you gentlemen so long.

He failed two second mates this morning before your turn came.
Less than twenty minutes each: that's about his usual time." "I found myself downstairs without being aware of the steps as if I had floated down the staircase.

The finest day in my life.