"How is it to be done ?" He spoke a little thickly, for, in spite of himself, the wine was clogging his senses.

It had been artistically drugged by Boyne.
"Listen to me, Calhoun," continued Boyne.

"I've known you now some time.
We've come in and gone out together.

This day was inevitable.

You were bound to come to it one way or another.