"I'll have to call there in any case." He wondered whether he had managed to keep his voice steady, its tone unconcerned enough; for his emotion was strong though it had nothing to do with the business aspect of this suggestion.

He moved in the room in vague preparation for departure, when he heard a soft laugh.

He spun about quickly with a frown, but the Editor was not laughing at him.

He was chuckling across the big desk at the wall: a preliminary of some speech for which Renouard, recalled to himself, waited silent and mistrustful.
"No! You would never guess! No one would ever guess what these people are after.

Willie's eyes bulged out when he came to me with the tale." "They always do," remarked Renouard with disgust.