True, I didn't feed you, but then--I hesitate to speak of it--perhaps you remember that mixture." "Do I?
Oh, well, certainly, if you put it that way," said French.
"Let's see, all the old ones are here.

Suppose we make it a good old-fashioned one.

How will this do ?" He passed the book to Brown.
"Just the thing," said Brown.

"'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' Can you find it, Kalman ?" "Why, cert," said Kalman.
French glanced apologetically at Brown.
"Recently caught," he explained, "but means no harm." Brown nodded.
"Proceed with the reading," he said.
French laid down his pipe, took off his hat, Kalman following his example, and began to read.

Instinctively, as he read, his voice took a softer modulation than in ordinary speech.