One might almost have fancied that the young man's abject state was a source of pleasure to him.
"So you are back again, my dear Gerald.

A pleasant surprise, indeed, but what is the meaning of it?
And what of my little commission, eh ?" The young man's face was dark and sullen.

He spoke quickly but without any sign of eagerness or interest in the information he vouchsafed.
"The storm has stopped all the trains," he said.

"The boat did not cross last night, and in any case I couldn't have reached Harwich.

As for your commission, I travelled down from London alone with the man you told me to spy upon.