Epigrams slightly frayed, a jest or two a trifle stale, humorous inversions of well-known maxims, a biting retort, the originality of which was not entirely free from suspicion, were his contributions to the festivities.
Later Kelter's nicely modulated voice and almost affectionate manner restrained Quest from hurling his glass at the inflamed countenance of Mr.Dumont.But it did not prevent him from leaving the room in a vicious temper, and, ultimately, the Cataract Club.
The early winter night had turned cold and clear; sidewalks glittered, sheeted with ice.

He inhaled a deep breath and expelled a reeking one, hailed a cab, and drove to the railroad station.
Here he bought his tickets, choosing a midnight train; for the journey to Mulqueen's was not a very long one; he could sleep till seven in the car; and, besides, he had his luggage to collect from the hotel he had been casually inhabiting.

Also he had not yet dined.
Bodily he felt better, now that the vichy had been "killed"; mentally his temper became more vicious than ever as he thought of Dumont's blunted wit at his expense--a wit with edge enough left to make a ragged, nasty wound.
"He'll get what's coming to him some day," snarled Quest, returning to his cab; and he bade the driver take him to the Amphitheatre, a restaurant resort, wonderful in terra-cotta rocks, papier-mache grottos, and Croton waterfalls--haunted of certain semi-distinguished pushers of polite professions, among whom he had been known for years.
The place was one vast eruption of tiny electric lights, and the lights of "the profession," and the demi-monde.

Virtue and its antithesis disguised alike in silk attire and pearl collars, rubbed elbows unconcernedly among the papier-mache grottos; the cascades foamed with municipal water, waiters sweated and scurried, lights winked and glimmered, and the music and electric fans annoyed nobody.
In its usual grotto Quest found the usual group, was welcomed automatically, sat down at one of the tables, and gave his order.
Artists, newspaper men, critics, and writers predominated.

There was also a "journalist" doing "brilliant" space work on the _Sun_.