But it stuck.
And slowly he gathered the forces of his spirit to make good the resolve with which he had faced this day--to withstand an appalling truth.
At the inn he sat before an open fire and pondered between brief conversations of men who accosted him.

On the one hand it was extremely trying, and on the other a fascinating and grim study--to meet people, and find that he could read their minds.

Had the war given him some magic sixth sense, some clairvoyant power, some gift of vision?
He could not tell yet what had come to him, but there was something.
Business men, halting to chat with Lane a few moments, helped along his readjustment to the truth of the strange present.

Almost all kinds of business were booming.

Most people had money to spend.