`Heopenedandclosedhiscurvedfingers，andhishandshadaneagerandcruelflutter。“Steady，steady，“Imurmured。
“`Eh？What？Iamnotexcited，“heremonstrated，awfullyhurt，andwithaconvulsivejerkofhiselbowknockedoverthecognac-bottle。Istartedforward，scrapingmychair。Hebouncedoffthetableasifaminehadbeenexplodedbehindhisback，andhalfturnedbeforehealighted，crouchingonhisfeettoshowmeastartledpairofeyesandafacewhiteaboutthenostrils。Alookofintenseannoyancesucceeded。“Awfullysorry。Howclumsyofme!“hemumbledveryvexed，whilethepungentodourofspiltalcoholenvelopedussuddenlywithanatmosphereofalowdrinking-boutinthecool，puredarknessofthenight。Thelightshadbeenputoutinthedining-hall；
ourcandleglimmeredsolitaryinthelonggallery，andthecolumnshadturnedblackfrompedimenttocapital。OnthevividstarsthehighcorneroftheHarbourOfficestoodoutdistinctacrosstheEsplanade，asthoughthesombrepilehadglidednearertoseeandhear。
`Heassumedanairofindifference。
“`IdaresayIamlesscalmnowthanIwasthen。Iwasreadyforanything。