When he stopped in his work, as was often the case, he remained retired within himself, but on the engineer's recommendation, they respected the reserve which he apparently wished to keep.
Quand il s'arrêtait dans sa besogne, ce qui arrivait souvent, il demeurait comme concentré en lui-même; mais, sur la recommandation de l'ingénieur, on respectait l'isolement qu'il paraissait vouloir garder.