He expected an interruption, and he was talking, talking, talking, in order to gain time for it.

I was as sure of it as if he had whispered his secret in my ear, and down in my numb, cold heart a warm little spring of hope began to bubble and run.
But Toussac had chafed at all this word-fencing, and now with an oath he broke in upon our dialogue.
'I have had enough of this!' he cried.

'It is not for child's play of this sort that I risked my head in coming over here.

Have we nothing better to talk about than this fellow?
Do you suppose I came from London to listen to your fine phrases?
Have done with it, I say, and get to business.' 'Very good,' said my champion.

'There's an excellent little cupboard here which makes as fine a prison as one could wish for.