The long-necked fellow went on with his writing steadily.

I observed that he was no longer grinning.

The three others tossed their heads all together towards the far end of the room where a fifth man had been looking on at their antics from a high stool.

I walked up to him as boldly as if he had been the devil himself.

With one foot raised up and resting on the cross-bar of his seat he never stopped swinging the other which was well clear of the stone floor.