Grant was my husban', and I'll prove it in a coort of law, so I will!" Her voice began to rise like a south-easterly gale, and Charlie beat a retreat.

He went to look for the old man, but could not find him anywhere.
Talking the matter over with Carew he got no satisfaction from the wisdom of that Solon.

"Deuced awkward thing, don't you know," was his only comment.
Things were even more awkward when the coach drew up to start, and no sign of the old man could be found.

He had strolled off to the back of the hotel, and vanished as absolutely as if the earth had swallowed him.
The Chinese cook was severely cross-questioned, but relapsed into idiotic smiles and plentiful "No savee's".

A blackfellow, loafing about the back of the hotel, was asked if he had seen a tall, thin old man with a beard going down the street.