Satisfied that the object of his search was not there, he turned to the man with a glazed hat.

He had noticed the master, but tried that common trick of unconsciousness in which vulgar natures always fail.

Balancing a billiard cue in his hand, he pretended to play with a ball in the center of the table.

The master stood opposite to him until he raised his eyes; when their glances met, the master walked up to him.
He had intended to avoid a scene or quarrel, but when he began to speak, something kept rising in his throat and retarded his utterance, and his own voice frightened him, it sounded so distant, low, and resonant.

"I understand," he began, "that Melissa Smith, an orphan, and one of my scholars, has talked with you about adopting your profession.