He himself has served, to complete satisfaction, on many ships, which he is able to name to you. He is industrious, good at his work and it’s really hard to understand why, on this of all ships, where the work isn’t excessively onerous, the way it is for instance on clipper ships, he should let anyone down. There can only be some slander that is in the way of his advancement, and is robbing him of the recognition he should otherwise certainly not lack for. I have kept my remarks general, let him voice his particular complaints himself.’ Karl had addressed all the men in the office, because they were all listening, and the odds that one of their number should prove just were much better, than that the chief cashier should be the man. Cunningly, Karl had failed to say that he had only known the stoker for such a short time. He would have spoken far better if he hadn’t been confused by the red face of the man with the cane, whom he could see properly, really for the first time, from his new position.

‘Every word he says is true,’ said the stoker before anyone could ask, even before anyone looked at him. Such precipitateness on the stoker’s part might have cost him dear, had not the man with the medals, who, as it dawned on Karl, must be the captain, already decided for himself that he would listen to the stoker’s case. He put out a hand and called out: ‘Come here!’ in a voice so firm you could have beaten it with a hammer. Now everything depended on the conduct of the stoker, for Karl had no doubt as to the rightness of his cause.

Happily, it became clear that the stoker was well versed in the ways of the world. With exemplary calmness he plucked from his little case a bundle of papers and a notebook, and, completely ignoring the chief cashier as though there was no question of doing anything else, went straight to the captain, and laid out his evidence on the window-sill. The chief cashier had no option but to join them there himself. ‘That man is a well-known querulant,’ he explained. ‘He spends more time in the office than in the engine-room. He has driven that easy going man Schubal to a state of despair. Listen, you!’ he turned to the stoker, ‘You’re really taking your importunity a stage too far. The number of times you’ve been thrown out of the accounts offices, quite rightly, with your completely and utterly, and with no exception, unjustified claims! The number of times you’ve come from there straight to the head office here! The number of times we’ve taken you aside and quietly reminded you that Schubal is your immediate superior, that you work to him and must deal directly with him! And now you barge in here in the presence of the captain himself, and you start pestering him, you’ve even had the neck to bring with you this well-rehearsed spokesman for your stale grudges, in the form of this little chap here, whom I’ve never even seen before.’

Karl had to restrain himself forcibly. But there was the captain, saying: ‘Let’s just listen to the man, shall we. Schubal’s been getting a little too independent for my liking lately, which isn’t to say that I accept your case.’ This last remark was meant for the stoker, it was only natural that he couldn’t take his part at once, but things seemed to be going well. The stoker embarked on his explanations, and right at the outset he even managed to refer to Schubal as ‘Mr Schubal’. What joy Karl felt, standing by the chief cashier’s now deserted desk, repeatedly pushing down a little pair of scales, for sheer delight. Mr Schubal is unjust. Mr Schubal favours the foreigners. Mr Schubal dismissed the stoker from the engine-room and made him clean lavatories, which was surely not part of his job as a stoker. On one occasion, the diligence of Mr Schubal was alleged to be more apparent than real. At that point Karl fixed the captain as hard as he could, frankly, as if he were his colleague, lest he be influenced by the stoker’s somewhat clumsy way of expressing himself. Because, though he said much, nothing of substance was revealed, and while the captain went on looking straight ahead, showing in his expression his determination to hear the stoker out for once, the other men were becoming restless and the stoker’s voice was now no longer in sole command of the room, which did not bode well. First of all, the man in the civilian suit activated his cane, and began softly tapping it on the floor. Of course the other men couldn’t help looking in his direction now and again. The men from the port authority, obviously in a hurry, reached for their files and went back to looking through them, though in a slightly distrait manner, the ship’s officer moved back to his table; and the chief cashier, scenting victory, heaved a deep and ironic sigh. The only one unaffected by the general air of distraction that was setting in was the servant, who had some sympathy with the sufferings of the underdog at the hands of the powerful, and nodded earnestly at Karl as though to assure him of something.

In the meantime the life of the harbour was going on outside the windows.