"Two men," he began again, speaking with difficulty.

"Two white men--men in uniform--honourable men.

I want to say--men of honour.

Are you ?" "Come! None of that," said the officer impatiently.

"Let us have that friend of yours." "What do you think I am ?" asked Almayer, fiercely.
"You are drunk, but not so drunk as not to know what you are doing.
Enough of this tomfoolery," said the officer sternly, "or I will have you put under arrest in your own house." "Arrest!" laughed Almayer, discordantly.