The notice was too uncommonly short.

But under the circumstances you'd have covered yourself with ignominy." Our new friend knocked the ashes out of his pipe.
"Quite a mistake," he said.

"I am not of the declining sort, though I'll admit it was something like telling a man that you would like a bath and in consequence being instantly knocked overboard to sink or swim with your clothes on.

However, I didn't feel as if I were in deep water at first.

I left the shipping office quietly and for a time strolled along the street as easy as if I had a week before me to fit myself out.