He had to come in there with a dry mouth.

"I never thought of finding you here," he added, murmuring steadily, with his elbows planted on the table.
"I come here sometimes," said the other, preserving his provoking coolness of demeanour.
"It's wonderful that you of all people should have heard nothing of it," the big Ossipon continued.

His eyelids snapped nervously upon the shining eyes.

"You of all people," he repeated tentatively.

This obvious restraint argued an incredible and inexplicable timidity of the big fellow before the calm little man, who again lifted the glass mug, drank, and put it down with brusque and assured movements.