He took it⁠—shut the pencil in and out, broke its point against the wood, re-cut and pocketed it, and⁠ ⁠… walked promptly up to me.

The girls and teachers, gathered round the other table, were talking pretty freely: they always talked at meals; and, from the constant habit of speaking fast and loud at such times, did not now subdue their voices much.

M. Paul came and stood behind me. He asked at what I was working; and I said I was making a watchguard.

He asked, “For whom?” And I answered, “For a gentleman⁠—one of my friends.”

M. Paul stooped down and proceeded⁠—as novel-writers say, and, as was literally true in his case⁠—to “hiss” into my ear some poignant words.