“Really, it would be as hard to tell it on you this morning as it was last night,” responded Jack, in quite unruffled tones.
“Be very careful, young man. I have already told you I am Herr Professor.”
“Oh, don’t hang out the barber pole again,” begged Jack.
The other shot a glance full of venom at the perfectly cool youth before him. Then, apparently realizing that there was nothing to be gained from indulging in tirades, he turned abruptly on his heel and strode to the door. On the threshold he paused.
“I am going to report your conduct to the captain at once,” he said. “You will find out before long what such gross impertinence to a passenger means.”
“I shouldn’t advise you to tell him about your behavior last night, though,” observed Jack.
“Why not?”
“Because from what I’ve observed of him, he is a rather hot-tempered man and he might feel inclined to throw you out of his cabin—and it’s quite a drop from there to the promenade deck.”
“You will hear more of this,” snarled the infuriated man; but at Jack’s parting shot he made off, looking very uncomfortable.
Poffer regarded Jack with a look in which admiration and awe were oddly blended.