“Really,” returned Mr. Kenge, “it is as well that he is not here today, for his⁠—shall I say, in my good friend’s absence, his indomitable singularity of opinion?⁠—might have been strengthened, perhaps; not reasonably, but might have been strengthened.”

“Pray what has been done today?” asked Allan.

“I beg your pardon?” said Mr. Kenge with excessive urbanity.

“What has been done today?”

“What has been done,” repeated Mr. Kenge. “Quite so. Yes. Why, not much has been done; not much. We have been checked⁠—brought up suddenly, I would say⁠—upon the⁠—shall I term it threshold?”