gruffness had come into his voice, which the other ascribed to excitement.
"The Sins of Séverac Bablon"
Sax Rohmer
"No, sir; I'm afraid not," he answered with a gruffness that in no way deceived his questioner.
"The Tempering"
Charles Neville Buck
"So you thought I had deserted you," I said, and was a little surprised at the gruffness in my voice.
"A Fool and His Money"
George Barr McCutcheon