"Is that Mister Stollifer?" he asked.
"Yes; who be you?" was the ungracious response, delivered in a gruff tone of voice. Old Stolliver was a boorish, cross-grained customer, who paid slight regard to the amenities, and did not show to advantage in conversation.
"Don't you know me? I am Mister Lapierre."
"O, Mr. Lapierre, eh? Been a warm day."
"Yes. Hass Mister Safareen gone?"
"Mister who?"
"Mister Safareen. Wass he not here shoost now?"
"Here? What fur?"
The landlord was by this time beginning to feel a little disgusted at the man's boorish incivility. "Will you pe so coot as to tell me," he asked, "if Mister Safareen hass peen here?"
"Not as I know of. Hain't seen him."