Ye know they call him the Blind Deevil, forbye he onythin' but blind,
an' no deevil in his dealin's wi' me - McRimmon o' the Black Bird Line.
"'What's here, Mister McPhee? ' said he.
"I was past prayin' for by then. 'A Chief Engineer sacked after
twenty years' service because he'll not risk the Breslau on the new
timin', an' be damned to ye, McRimmon,' I said.
"The auld man sucked in his lips an' whistled. 'AH,' said he, 'the
new timin'. I see!' He doddered into the Board-room I'd just left,
an' the Dandie-dog that is just his blind man's leader stayed wi'
me. That was providential. In a minute he was back again. 'Ye've
cast your bread on the watter, McPhee, an' be damned to you,' he
says. 'Whaur's my dog? My word, is he on your knee? There's more
discernment in a dog than a Jew. What garred ye curse your Board,
McPhee? It's expensive.'
"'They'll pay more for the Breslau,' I said. 'Get off my knee, ye
smotherin' beast.'
"'Bearin's hot, eh?' said McRimmon. 'It's thirty year since a man
daur curse me to my face. Time was I'd ha' cast ye doon the
stairway for that.'
"'Forgie's all!' I said. He was wearin' to eighty, as I knew.
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