“I have asked for him at least four times, and he has always been engaged,” said Mr. Smith, angrily.
“Well, he generally is, on a sailing day. Can’t I do anything? Is your cabin uncomfortable?”
“The cabin is well enough. It is about a telegram I must send.”
The assistant shook his head.
“No wireless to be used,” he said. “War regulation. You can telegraph from Adelaide, of course.”
“That is ridiculous,” said the stout man angrily. “In Australian waters——”
“Well, it isn’t my regulation,” the assistant said. “You’d better complain to the military authorities. No, the purser can’t help you; why, the captain couldn’t. It’s war precaution, I tell you.”
Mr. Linton then came up, and the rest of the conversation was lost. They could hear the stout man’s angry voice as they went down the staircase.
“Seems in a bad temper,” Wally observed.
“He’s a hasty person altogether,” said Mr. Linton. “The captain tells me that he decided only at the last moment to come on this voyage. He certainly arrived at the last moment!”