Friends who were listening began to laugh.

The oldest man present looked at his watch.

In five minutes more the lights were out and the smoking-room was deserted.
Linley was the last to retire--fevered by the combined influences of smoke and noise.

His mind, oppressed all through the evening, was as ill at ease as ever.

Lingering, wakeful and irritable, in the corridor (just as Sydney had lingered before him), he too stopped at the open door and admired the peaceful beauty of the garden.
The sleepy servant, appointed to attend in the smoking room, asked if he should close the door.