Turning from a muttered word to the soldier at his side, Thorkel answered her with his usual curtness.

Dr. Duchesne's gravity seemed to give that significance to this symptom, and his cross-questioning of the patient was characterized by more than his usual curtness.

"Better," she said with even more than her usual curtness, and she was never prolix.

"Never ask more than one question at a time," Napoleon answered, with his usual curtness; "my orders to you are to return at once.