At their entry two beady grey eyes lifted to take a brief but thorough survey, and a hand with a pencil in it pointed to the single empty chair.
Mahony declined to translate the gesture and remained standing.
Under the best of circumstances it irked him to be kept waiting.

Here, following on the clerk's saucy familiarity, the wilful delay made his gorge rise.

For a few seconds he fumed in silence; then, his patience exhausted, he burst out: "My time, sir, is as precious as your own.
With your permission, I will take my business elsewhere." At these words, and at the tone in which they were spoken, the lawyer's head shot up as if he had received a blow under the chin.

Again he narrowed his eyes at the couple.

And this time he laid the document from him and asked suavely: "What can I do for you ?" The change in his manner though slight was unmistakable.