There sat the General by the fire talking to himself, wrapped in thought.

Warburton walked to the middle of the room.

The old man didn't see him.

He decided not to disturb him, for he was rehearsing what he proposed to say to the Secretary of State for War or to the Prime Minister--getting his ears as well as his mind used to it.

Warburton put the telegram on the table near the General, went out, and wasn't discovered.
Several nights, he sat by the fire with Warburton and began to talk, again rehearsing to himself some important conclusions that he had reached.