But with Throgton the moment of musing was short.

His instinct was to act.
"You may go," he said to the messenger.

Then he seized the telephone that stood beside him (this man could telephone almost without stopping thinking) and spoke into it in quiet, measured tones, without wasting a word.
"Hullo, operator! Put me through to two, two, two, two, two.

Is that two, two, two, two, two?
Hullo, two, two, two, two, two; I want Transome Kent.

Kent speaking?
Kent, this is Throgton speaking.