anchor: 149 His learned friend ”Sir Ernest nodded carelessly at Mr. Philips ”had stated that if the prisoner were an innocent man, he would have come forward at the inquest to explain that it was he, and not Mr. Inglethorp, who had been the participator in the quarrel. 
positive: Sir Ernest and Mr. Philips were talking about the prisoner.
negative: Sir Ernest was discussing his thoughts about the prisoner over the phone.