Then all became still.

For a moment Ossipon imagined the overlighted place changed into a dreadful black hole belching horrible fumes choked with ghastly rubbish of smashed brickwork and mutilated corpses.

He had such a distinct perception of ruin and death that he shuddered again.

The other observed, with an air of calm sufficiency: "In the last instance it is character alone that makes for one's safety.
There are very few people in the world whose character is as well established as mine." "I wonder how you managed it," growled Ossipon.
"Force of personality," said the other, without raising his voice; and coming from the mouth of that obviously miserable organism the assertion caused the robust Ossipon to bite his lower lip.

"Force of personality," he repeated, with ostentatious calm.