I read his face, and knew before he spoke what he would do.
'It appears to me that the burden is with you,' he said huskily; 'but for my part I am satisfied.' 'Very well,' I said, 'I take the burden.

Permit me to apologise for having caused you to strip unnecessarily.

Fortunately the sun is shining.' 'Yes,' he said gloomily.

And he took his clothes from the sundial and began to put them on.

He had expressed himself satisfied, but I knew that he was feeling very ill-satisfied, indeed, with himself; and I was not surprised when he presently said abruptly and almost rudely, 'There is one thing that I think we must settle here.' 'Yes ?' I said.