"All this happened about two years before the day when Davidson, sitting in this very room, talked to my friend.

You will see presently how this room can get full.

Every seat'll be occupied, and as you notice, the tables are set close, so that the backs of the chairs are almost touching.

There is also a good deal of noisy talk here about one o'clock.
"I don't suppose Davidson was talking very loudly; but very likely he had to raise his voice across the table to my friend.

And here accident, mere accident, put in its work by providing a pair of fine ears close behind Davidson's chair.