Present illness accounted perhaps for the latter symptoms; but, from that glimpse of him in Norton Folgate, Gammon had known that he was much aged and shaken.

Hat, overcoat, and muffler had partly disguised what was now evident.

He spoke with the accent of an educated man, and in the tone of one whom nature has endowed with amiable qualities.

The bottle beside him seemed to explain certain peculiarities of his manner.

When he had drunk thirstily he raised himself to a sitting posture, and nodded to his visitor an invitation to take a chair.
"I'm here, you see, Gammon.