he was looking rather desperately for some semblance of seclusion in which to be sick , but finding nothing to his purpose , at length stumbled to a halt and vomited profusely in a doorway-whereupon , to his horror , the door swung open , revealing a highly indignant householder , who did not wait for explanations , apologies , or offers of recompense , but seized a cudgel of some kind from behind his door and , bellowing incomprehensible oaths in what might be german , chased william down the alleyway .