assures me, my father accepted the request as though it were a perfectly

reasonable one, and in general, continued to behave with immaculate courtesy.

 

But Mr Smith's and Mr Jones's attention had now been drawn to my father and no

doubt rather bored with what the view outside had to offer, they proceeded to

amuse themselves by shouting out unflattering remarks concerning my father's

'mistake'. Mr Charles remembered marvelling at how my father showed not one hint

of discomfort or anger, but continued to drive with an expression balanced

perfectly between personal dignity and readiness to oblige. My father's

equanimity was not, however, allowed to last. For when they had wearied of

hurling insults at my father's back, the two gentlemen began to discuss their

host - that is to say, my father's employer, Mr John Silvers. The remarks grew

ever more debased and treacherous so that Mr Charles - at least so he claimed -

was obliged to intervene with the suggestion that such talk was bad form. This

view was contradicted with such energy that Mr Charles, quite aside from

worrying he would become the next focus of the gentlemen's attention, actually

thought himself in danger of physical assault. But then suddenly, following a

particularly heinous insinuation against his employer, my father brought the car

to an abrupt halt. It was what happened next that had made such an indelible

impression upon Mr Charles.

 

The rear door of the car opened and my father was observed to be standing there,

a few steps back from the vehicle, gazing steadily into the interior. As Mr

Charles described it, all three passengers seemed to be overcome as one by the

realization of what an imposing physical force my father was. Indeed, he was a