“You said you had been a General Manager.”
Gissing told, with some vivacity, of his experiences in the world of trade. The Captain poured another small liqueur.
“They're fine halesome liquor,” he said.
“Sincerely yours,” said Gissing, nodding over the glass. He was beginning to feel quite at home in the navigating quarters of the ship, and hoped the potato-peeling might be postponed as long as possible.
“How far had you got in your essay?” asked the Captain.
“Not very far, I fear. I was beginning by laying down a few psychological fundamentals.”
“Excellent! Will you read it to me?”
Gissing went to get his manuscript, and read it aloud. The Captain listened attentively, puffing clouds of smoke.
“I am sorry this is such a short voyage,” he said when Gissing finished. “You have approached the matter from an entirely naif and instinctive standpoint, and it will take some time to show you your errors. Before I demolish your arguments I should like to turn them over in my mind. I will reduce my ideas to writing and then read them to you.”
“I should like nothing better,” said Gissing. “And I can think over the subject more carefully while I peel the potatoes.”