Only Grail gave an unfailing ear.

Egremont closed with a sense of depression.
Would Bower come and pester him with fatuous questions and remarks?
No; Bower turned away and reached his hat from the peg.

The doubtful five took down their hats and followed the portly man from the room.

Bunce was talking with Grail, pointing with dirty forefinger to something in his dirty note-book.

But he, too, speedily moved to the hat-pegs.