Probably he only listened politely.

But I think he found comfort in a sympathetic ear.
Presently he turned on to Boyce, the real motive of his summons.

He repented much that he had told and written to me.

His long defamation of the character of a brother-officer had lain on his conscience.

And lately he had, at last, met Boyce personally, and his generous heart had gone out to the man's soldierly charm.
"I never felt such a slanderous brute in my life as when I shook him by the hand.