The End of the Islander Our meal was a merry one.

Holmes could talk exceedingly well when he chose, and that night he did choose.

He appeared to be in a state of nervous exaltation.

I have never known him so brilliant.

He spoke on a quick succession of subjects,--on miracle-plays, on medieval pottery, on Stradivarius violins, on the Buddhism of Ceylon, and on the war-ships of the future,--handling each as though he had made a special study of it.