The stare melted into a smile.

"My dear fellow!" he murmured, in a mild blend of horror and reproof, as though it were the fourth dimension that Langholm claimed to have discovered.

It cost the discoverer no small effort not to cry out that he could lay hands on him then and there.

The unspoken words were gulped down, and a simple repetition substituted at the last.
"I could swear to him myself," added Langholm.

"It remains to be seen whether there is evidence enough to convict." "Have you communicated with the police ?" "Not yet." "They seem to have some absurd bee in their helmet down here, you know." "They don't get it from me." It was impossible any longer to doubt the import of Langholm's earnest and rather agitated manner.