At one time the sight of this handwriting had quickened his pulses with a delicious hope; now it stimulated his gloomy reflections.

Such a revival of the past was very unseasonable.
Before going to bed he wrote several letters.

They were announcements of his coming marriage--brief, carelessly worded, giving as little information as possible.
The next morning was taken up with business.

He saw, among other people, his friend Stark, the picture-collecting lawyer.

Stark had letters from Polterham which assured him that the Liberals were confident of victory.
"Confounded pity that Quarrier just got the start of you!" he exclaimed.