When someone decides to belittle him and thinks that he will not take revenge, he surprises him with a slander. Near the beginning of the story, Anna, Marlowe's assistant, had made an appointment with Mr. Jeeter. Upon his arrival, he was annoyed at having to wait, which led him to insult Marlowe by saying he was not a gentleman and Marlowe retorted with "You're not the Jeeter of the tobacco road, are you?" I asked him. --- “wait a minute, nothing,” I said. This party said I was not a gentleman. Maybe that's fine for a man in his position, whatever it is, but a man in my position won't take a dirty attack from anyone. He can't afford it unless, of course, it was planned.”' (257). It doesn't matter who you are; Marlowe does not accept disrespect from anyone. He also cracks jokes that help lighten the mood. At one point Marlowe was in the elevator with some men, and one of them was called Beef, Marlowe took it upon himself to pause by commenting with "'What's the matter, Beef?" “He's in trouble,” I said” (278). No matter the situation, Marlowe always managed a joke