It is true that he had a great deal stored up to tell me.

He was in a state of great excitement, and was delighted to have got hold of me for a listener.

He began talking of the news of the town, of the arrival of the governor's wife, "with new topics of conversation," of an opposition party already formed in the club, of how they were all in a hubbub over the new ideas, and how charmingly this suited him, and so on.

He talked for a quarter of an hour and so amusingly that I could not tear myself away.

Though I could not endure him, yet I must admit he had the gift of making one listen to him, especially when he was very angry at something.