He closed the window again and sat for a few moments on the edge of the bed, one shoe in his hand, thoughtful and absorbed, wondering if his father would involve himself in this new scheme, wondering if, after all, he wanted him to.
But suddenly he was aware of a commotion, issuing from the direction of Annixter's room, and the voice of Annixter himself upraised in expostulation and exasperation.

The door of the room to which Annixter had been assigned opened with a violent wrench and an angry voice exclaimed to anybody who would listen: "Oh, yes, funny, isn't it?
In a way, it's funny, and then, again, in a way it isn't." The door banged to so that all the windows of the house rattled in their frames.
Harran hurried out into the dining-room and there met Presley and his father, who had been aroused as well by Annixter's clamour.

Osterman was there, too, his bald head gleaming like a bulb of ivory in the light of the lamp that Magnus carried.
"What's all up ?" demanded Osterman.

"Whatever in the world is the matter with Buck ?" Confused and terrible sounds came from behind the door of Annixter's room.

A prolonged monologue of grievance, broken by explosions of wrath and the vague noise of some one in a furious hurry.