...' He broke off and lit a match by drawing it across the seat of his trousers.

'It's time I got the gas lichtit.

There's some men coming here at half-ten.' As the gas squealed and flickered in the lighting, he sketched for me the coming guests.

'There's Macnab and Niven, two o' my colleagues.

And there's Gilkison of the Boiler-fitters, and a lad Wilkie--he's got consumption, and writes wee bits in the papers.