"It would not," I answered, "if it came from tobacco."
He subsided.
Whenever there was a stop of any length I stepped out and walked the platform. The officer invariably followed my example. I pondered over this each time I re-entered the carriage. At last my irritation turned into wrath.
"Are you aware that your actions are very annoying?"
"How, sir?" proudly.
"You stare me out of countenance, you refrain from entering into conversation, and by the way you follow me in and out of the carriage, one would say that you were watching me. All this is not common politeness."
"Herr jests," he replied with a forced smile. "If I desire not to converse, that is my business. As for getting in and out of the carriage, have I no rights as a passenger?"
It was I who subsided. A minute passed.
"But why do you stare at me?" I asked.
"I do not stare at you, I have no paper and tried to read yours at a distance. I am willing to apologize for that."