He had a trick of silently staring people out of countenance.

But he found that Stoner was not to be stared down, and eventually he spoke.
"I'll tell you what it is, my lad!" he said.

"I don't know whether you've been drinking, or if you've some bee in your bonnet, but I don't allow nobody, and especially a man as I pay wages to, to speak in them tones to me! What d'ye mean by it ?" "I'll tell you what I mean, Mr.Mallalieu," replied Stoner, still regarding his man fixedly, and nerving himself for the contest.

"I mean this--I know who killed Kitely!" Mallalieu felt himself start again; he felt his face flush warm.

But he managed to show a fairly controlled front, and he made shift to sneer.
"Oh, indeed," he said, twisting his mouth in derision.