I had walked only a block when I met old Bilgewater, an English sea captain.
He was delighted to see me and insisted that I take luncheon with him.
We went to a nearby restaurant and sat down at a table near the door.
I noticed as old Bilgewater sat down, he did it very stiffly. He didn't act as though he was at all comfortable.
Pretty soon he reached into his hip pocket and brought out a large telescope.
"That's a pretty hefty thing to sit on, ain't it?" says he, by way of introduction.
I said it was.
"Well, I never let that 'scope out of my sight," says he.
"Why?" says I. "Valuable?"