Alaric had, of course, been promoted to a room of his own.
The Weights and Measures had never been a noisy office; but now it became more silent than ever.

Men there talked but little at any time, and now they seemed to cease from talking altogether.
It was known to all that the Damon and Pythias of the establishment were Damon and Pythias no longer; that war waged between them, and that if all accounts were true, they were ready to fly each at the other's throat.

Some attributed this to the competitive examination; others said it was love; others declared that it was money, the root of evil; and one rash young gentleman stated his positive knowledge that it was all three.

At any rate something dreadful was expected; and men sat anxious at their desks, fearing the coming evil.
On the Monday the two men did not meet, nor on the Tuesday.

On the next morning, Alaric, having acknowledged to himself the necessity of breaking the ice, walked into the room where Norman sat with three or four others.