As he opened the study door he was surprised to hear voices within.

Paul and his new acquaintance, Tom Cowan, were sitting side by side on the window-seat.
"Hello," greeted the former.

"How'd it go?
Like old times, wasn't it?
Neil, I want you to meet Mr.Cowan.Cowan has quarters up-stairs here.
He's an old player, and we've been telling each other how good we are." Cowan looked for an instant as though he didn't quite appreciate the latter remark, but summoned a smile as he shook hands with Neil and complimented him on his playing in Hillton's last game with St.Eustace.
Neil replied with extraordinary politeness.

He was always extraordinarily polite to persons he didn't fancy, and his dislike of Cowan was instant and hearty.

Cowan looked to be fully twenty-three years old, and owned to being twenty-one.