Taken separately, and as they were spoken, his words might not be very significant, but pieced together, arranged, and interpreted through even scant knowledge of circumstances, they were sufficient to give me a key to difficulties which, afterwards, were to cause much distress.

I arrange some of the sentences here to show how startling were the fancies--or remembrances--that vexed him.
"But I was coming back--I was coming back--I tell you I should have stayed with her for ever....

See how she trembles!--Now her breath is gone--There is no pulse--Her heart is still--My God, her heart is still!--Hush! cover her face....

Row hard, you devils!--A hundred dollars if you make the point in time....

Whereaway ?--Whereaway ?--Steady now!--Let them have it across the bows!--Low! low!--fire low!...