He told the guard so.
"I'll do my best, sir," replied the guard, with great impressement, as he pocketed Don Juan's five shillings. "You shall be inconvenienced as little as possible."
He locked the door and walked away, and I thought we should be left to ourselves.
The guard, however, had overestimated his powers.
The train was within a minute of starting when two passengers, evidently in a great hurry, made their appearance at the window. One was an old gentleman with a white beard, wearing blue spectacles, and apparently half blind; the other a young sturdy man, evidently his son, for the elder leant on his arm, and was addressed by him as "father."
The son led the old man straight to our carriage, and called aloud for the guard on finding it locked.
"Now, guard!" he cried with authority, when the official made his appearance, "open the door; all the other carriages are full."
"If you wouldn't mind coming down a few carriages farther, sir," suggested our guard, "I can find you two good corner seats at once."
"Open this door at once," cried the gentleman furiously; "there is only half a minute to spare, and don't you see my father is an invalid?"
Don Juan emerged from his corner with a look of genuine concern upon his face.