On my way to her I met Clovelly and Colonel Ryder.

Hungerford was walking between them.

Colonel Ryder said: "I've been saving that story for you, Doctor; better come and get it while it's hot." This was a promised tale of the taking of Mobile in the American Civil War.
At any other time the invitation would have pleased me mightily; for, apart from the other two, Hungerford's brusque and original conversation was always a pleasure--so were his cheroots; but now I was under an influence selfish in its source.

At the same time I felt that Hungerford was storing up some acute criticism of me, and that he might let me hear it any moment.

I knew, numbering the order of his duties, that he could have but a very short time to spare for gossip at this juncture, yet I said that I could not join them for half an hour or so.