There were many newspapers in the room, but there was nothing in them.
There was a clock, but it did not seem to go; at least, so he thought,
but after looking at it for a very long time he found it did go, but it
went very slowly. Then he looked at his watch, and that went as slow as
the clock. Then he took up the newspapers again one after the other very
deliberately. He read the sporting intelligence and the fashionable
news. But he did not read very attentively, as he afterwards discovered.
Then he looked at the clock again, and was almost angry at the
imperturbable monotony of its face. Then he took out his pocket-book to
amuse himself by reading his memorandums, but they were very few, and
very unintelligible. Then he rose up from his seat, and went to the
window; and looked at the people in the street; he thought they looked
very stupid, and wondered what they could all find to do with
themselves. He looked at the carriages, and saw none with coronets,
except now and then a hackney-coach. Then he began to pick his teeth,
and that reminded him of eating; and then he rang the bell, which
presently brought a waiter; and he took that opportunity of drawling out
the word "waiter" in such lengthened tone, as if resolved to make one
word last as long as possible.--_Rank and Talent_.
* * * * *