Apparently, he was now to be both judged and executed at the same time.
There could not be long delay.

The entrance of Gregory had almost been the precipitant of action, and though it had been smoothed over to an extent, still the air was each moment more charged with suspense.

The men were lighting their second cigarette.

With each second it grew clearer that they were waiting for something.

And as if thoughtful of the work before them, they no longer talked so fluently.
Finally there was no talk at all, save for sporadic outbursts, and the blue smoke and the brown curled up slowly in undisturbed drifts toward the ceiling until a bright halo formed around the gasoline lamp.