But you shall hear the letter yourself." Doyle digested this for a while in silence.

Then he gave a sort of snort, which is inimitable, but always accompanied his outbursts against things slightly more recent than the sixties.

It had the effect of rousing Hilda, at any rate.
"Don't, you dear old thing," she said, clutching his arm.

"I know exactly what you're going to say.

Young men of your day minded their business and did their duty, and didn't theorise so much.