It shut, and I was left alone again.
For twenty minutes I sat there, wondering what I was to do next.

I was still perfectly convinced that I was wanted, but when or how I had no notion.

I kept looking at my watch, and as the time crept on to half-past ten I began to think that the conference must soon end.

In a quarter of an hour Royer should be speeding along the road to Portsmouth ...
Then I heard a bell ring, and the butler appeared.

The door of the back room opened, and the First Sea Lord came out.