I was thinking, with an amused smile, how horrified he would be if he knew that the crude American below him had dined at the impossible hour of six, when suddenly I heard, in that room above me, some stranger talking in a harsh determined tone.

Then came the captain's answering voice, calmer, more dignified.

This conversation went along for some time, growing each moment more excited.

Though I could not distinguish a word of it, I had the uncomfortable feeling that there was a controversy on; and I remember feeling annoyed that any one should thus interfere with my composition of your letter, which I regarded as most important, you may be sure.
At the end of five minutes of argument there came the heavy thump-thump of men struggling above me.

It recalled my college days, when we used to hear the fellows in the room above us throwing each other about in an excess of youth and high spirits.