His eyes met mine.

They were very sad and behind them lay great pain.

Although I expressed astonishment, it proceeded rather from some reflex action than from any realised shock to my consciousness.

I say the whole thing was uncanny.
I knew, as soon as he sat down by the table, that he would confess to the Vilboek story.

And yet, at last, when he did confess and there were no doubts lingering in my mind, I gasped and stared at him.
"I was a bloody coward," he said.