The porter was standing in front of me:
"Want another, you big stiff?"
In a second I calculated my chances.
There was nothing for it.
The fellow was stronger than I.
My only hope would have been to take him by surprise.
I could not punch from the box, it would have no power.
And by the time I got out' of the car he could down me half a dozen times.
I looked at him.
He blew his beery breath in my face:
"One word more and your wife's a widow."
I looked at him. I did not move, I stared into that big healthy face.
I devoured it with my eyes. I saw exactly where I must hit; I was ice-cold with rage.
But I did not stir. I saw the face, too close, too distinct, as through a magnifying glass, immense, every bristle, the red, coarse, porous skin . . .
A policeman's helmet gleamed.
"What's up here?"
The porter put on a servile look.
"Nothing, Herr Constable."
He looked at me.
"Nothing," said I.
He looked from the porter back to me.
"You're bleeding?"
"Knocked myself."
The porter stepped back a pace.
There was a grin in his eye.
He thought I was afraid to accuse him.
"Right, off you go then," said the policeman.
I stepped on the accelerator and drove back to the stand.
"Man, you do look fine," said Gustav.
"It's only my nose," I replied, telling him the story.
"Come over into the pub," said Gustav. "I wasn't a Sergeant Stretcher-Bearer for nothing.
Dirty trick, to hit a sitting man." He took me into the pub kitchen, got some ice and worked on me for half an hour. "You won't so much as show a bruise," he explained.
At last he stopped.
"Now, how's it with the nut?
All right, eh?
Then we won't lose any time."
Tommy came in.
"Was that the big porter at the Vineta?
He's famous for his punches.
Hasn't had his taste yet, unfortunately."
"Well, he's going to now," said Gustav. .
"Yes, but from me," I replied.
Gustav looked at me disapprovingly.
"Before you are out of the car—"
"I've thought of a turn already.
If I don't bring it off, then you can always have a go."
"Good."
I put on Gustav's cap and we took his car so the porter should not smell a rat.
He wouldn't be able to see much anyway, the street was too dark.
We drove up.