He said sharply that it was not very likely, as if defending the absent victim of the accident from an unkind aspersion.

He felt, in fact, indignant.

The other emitted a short stifled laugh of a conciliatory nature.

The second bell rang under the poop.

He made a movement at the sound, but lingered.
"What I said was not meant seriously," he murmured, with that strange air of fearing to be overheard.