He sought in his pockets and suddenly shot up his hand, holding a letter, and awaited a lull in the uproar.

He was master of himself now.

He had indeed words to say, deliberately prepared, and he knew that if he could get a hearing he would say them as deliberately.

At last came comparative calm.
"Gentlemen," said he, with a motion of the letter, "my opponent is dying." He paused.

The words, so unexpected, so strangely different from the usual exordium, seemed to pass from line to line through the crowd.
"I am speaking in the presence of death," said Paul, and paused again.
And a hush spread like a long wave across the street, and the thronged windows, last of all, grew still and silent.
"I will ask you to hear me out, for I have something very grave to say." And his voice rang loud and clear.