James Hutchings came very quietly down the hall, saw him, and started.
"Good evening, Hutchings.

I thought you'd left us," said Mr.Manley, in a rather unpleasant tone.
"You may take your oath to it!" said James Hutchings truculently, in a much more unpleasant tone than Mr.Manley had used.

"I just came back to get a box of cigarettes I left in the cupboard of my pantry.

I don't want any help in smoking them from any one here." He opened the library door gently, went quietly through it, and drew it to behind him, leaving Mr.Manley frowning at it.

It was a fact that Hutchings carried a packet, which might very well have been cigarettes; but Mr.Manley did not believe his story of his errand.