He was alert and eager.

He had the air of a man upon the threshold of some enterprise dear to his heart.
"I have been through a queer experience," Francis continued presently, as he sipped his second liqueur.

"Not only had I rather less than twelve hours to make up my mind whether I should commit a serious offence against the law, but a sensation which I always hoped that I might experience, has come to me in what I suppose I must call most unfortunate fashion." "The woman ?" Wilmore ventured.
Francis assented gloomily.

There was a moment's silence.

Wilmore, the metaphysician, saw then a strange thing.