I assure you, I am looking on, with all the interest of a man of the world, at the development of your highly original character.' He continued to study my face without speech, his hand still on the button of the bell-rope, his eyes in mine; this was the decisive heat.
My face seemed to myself to dislimn under his gaze, my expression to change, the smile (with which I had began) to degenerate into the grin of the man upon the rack.

I was besides harassed with doubts.

An innocent man, I argued, would have resented the fellow's impudence an hour ago; and by my continued endurance of the ordeal, I was simply signing and sealing my confession; in short, I had reached the end of my powers.
'Have you any objection to my putting my hands in my breeches pockets ?' I inquired.

'Excuse me mentioning it, but you showed yourself so extremely nervous a moment back.' My voice was not all I could have wished, but it sufficed.

I could hear it tremble, but the landlord apparently could not.