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"I didn't notice whether there were any cobwebs on him, but I shouldn't

wonder if there were because he looked as though he had been imprisoned

for years in that little hole The way he dropped his pen and sat

blinking eon was hot and as and round Solid, heavy stacks of paper filled all the corners half-way

up to the ceiling And when the thought flashed upon me that these were

the premises of the Marine Board and that this fellow must be connected

in some ith ships and sailors and the sea, ine why the Marine Board should keep that

bald, fat creature slaving down there For some reason or other I felt

sorry and ashamed to have found hiently and sorrowfully: "The Shipping Office, please"

He piped up in a contemptuous squeaky voice which e on the other side Street side This is the Dock

side You've lost your way"

He spoke in such a spiteful tone that I thought he was going to round off

with the words: "You fool"and perhaps he meant to But what he

finished sharply as: "Shut the door quietly after you"