Then began a discussion which threatened to last all night, neither of them giving way from the position they had taken up, neither yielding an inch to the other's entreaties.

Suddenly Jonah looked at his watch with an exclamation.
It was nearly ten.

In the heat of argument they had forgotten the lapse of time.

They scrambled over boulders and through the lantana bushes down to the path, and just caught the boat.
When they reached the Quay they were surprised again by the splendour of the night.

The moon, just past the full, flooded the streets with white light that left deep shadows between the buildings like a charcoal drawing.