There was no occasion for heat or bluster or profanity.

He was prepared to discuss the matter, man to man.
Mr.Maitland regarded him for a moment or two with keen steady gaze.
"Where do you work, McNish ?" he enquired of the Scot.
"A'm workin' the noo in the sawmill.

A'm a joiner to trade." "Then Perrotte is not your foreman ?" "That is true," said McNish quietly.
"Then personally you have no grievance against him ?" Mr.Maitland had the air of a man who has scored a bull at the first shot.
"Ay, A have an' the men tae--the men I represent have--" "And you assume to speak for them ?" "They appoint me to speak for them." "And their complaint is-- ?" "Their complaint is that he is no fit to be a foreman." "Ah, indeed! And you are here solely on their word--" "No, not solely, but pairtly.

A know by experience and A hae har-r-d the man, and he's no fit for his job, A'm tellin' you." "I suppose you know the qualifications of a foreman, McNish ?" enquired Mr.Maitland with the suspicion of sarcasm in his voice.
"Ay, A do that." "And how, may I ask, have you come to the knowledge ?" "A dinna see--I do not see the bearing of the question." "Only this, that you and those you represent place your judgment as superior to mine in the choice of a foreman.

It would be interesting to know upon what grounds." "I have been a foreman myself.