You can proceed, Constant," he added.
The tall clerk turned half round on his chair and commenced.

He had a peculiar way of jabbering over what he had scrawled.

He read very quickly, all at a stretch, without paying the least attention to either full stops or commas, questions or replies; but went on reading as long as his breath lasted.

When he could go on no longer, he took a breath, and then continued as before.

Unconsciously, he reminded one of a diver, who every now and then raises his head above water, obtains a supply of air, and disappears again.