He had told his story with many quaint formalities of diction, but also with a very convincing realism.
"And now--" I began.
"And now," said Shorter, leaning forward again with something like servile energy, "and now, Mr Swinburne, what about that unhappy man Hawker.

I cannot tell what those men meant, or how far what they said was real.

But surely there is danger.

I cannot go to the police, for reasons that you perceive.

Among other things, they wouldn't believe me.
What is to be done ?" I took out my watch.