He had written it out in lead pencil beforehand, but seemed mighty anxious to get it just right.

After I copied it he worked it over several times, before he got it to suit him.

He said it was a little business he was attending to for a friend.

We burnt up the discards in the little old grate in the office.

He had brought some paper and envelopes along with him, and I remember he held a sheet up to the light to make sure it didn't have a watermark.