'Although he knew,' Winton suggested.
'Stronger than that, I think.'
'He who knew well,' Malpass interpolated.
'Ye-es. "Well though he knew." I don't like Conington's "well-witting." It's Wardour Street.'
'Well though he knew what the savage torturer was--was getting ready for him,' said Winton.
'Ye-es. Had in store for him.'
'Yet he brushed aside his kinsmen and the people delaying his return.'
'Ye-es; but then how do you render obstantes?'
'If it's a free translation mightn't obstantes and morantem come to about the same thing, sir?'
'Nothing comes to "about the same thing" with Horace, Winton. As I have said, Horace was not a journalist. No, I take it that his kinsmen bodily withstood his departure, whereas the crowd--populumque--the democracy stood about futilely pitying him and getting in the way. Now for that noblest of endings--quam si clientum,' and King ran off into the quotation: