Afterwards he sat leaning back in his chair, glancing every now and then at the clock, but otherwise manifesting no signs of impatience.

In less than half an hour an inspector, cap in hand, entered the room and announced that everything was ready.

Mr.Hamilton Fynes put on his hat, picked up his suitcase, and followed him on to the platform.

A long saloon carriage, with a guard's brake behind and an engine in front, was waiting there.
"We've done our best, sir," the station-master remarked with a note of self-congratulation in his tone.

"It's exactly twenty-two minutes since you came into the office, and there she is.