The grounds of his opinion were fallacious; and I desired an opportunity of detecting their fallacy.
I entreated him to be explicit, and to give me a detail of what he had heard, and what he had seen.
At these words, my companion's countenance grew darker.

He appeared to be struggling with his rage.

He opened his lips to speak, but his accents died away ere they were formed.

This conflict lasted for some minutes, but his fortitude was finally successful.

He spoke as follows: "I would fain put an end to this hateful scene: what I shall say, will be breath idly and unprofitably consumed.