'One drunken man, excellent business--two drunken men, all my eye.' On the production of coffee and departure of the waiter, Michael might have been observed to make portentous efforts after gravity of mien.
He looked his friend in the face (one eye perhaps a trifle off), and addressed him thickly but severely.
'Enough of this fooling,' was his not inappropriate exordium.

'To business.

Mark me closely.

I am an Australian.

My name is John Dickson, though you mightn't think it from my unassuming appearance.