Here I met a friend, just sailing for home, who told me of some sad experiences he had had with letters of introduction--of the cold, fishy, "My-dear-fellow-why-trouble-me-with-it ?" stares that had greeted their presentation.

Good-hearted men all, he said, but averse to strangers; an ever-present trait in the English--always excepting Archie.
So I put the letter to Captain Fraser-Freer out of my mind.

I had business acquaintances here and a few English friends, and I found these, as always, courteous and charming.

But it is to my advantage to meet as many people as may be, and after drifting about for a week I set out one afternoon to call on my captain.

I told myself that here was an Englishman who had perhaps thawed a bit in the great oven of India.