We were all silent, but I suppose I voiced the thoughts of us all when I at last broke it by saying: "Where is Mr. Inglethorp?" John shook his head. 
John shook his head "no" when I asked where Mr. Inglethorp was.
mnli hypothesis: John shook his head "no" when I asked where Mr. Inglethorp was. premise: We were all silent, but I suppose I voiced the thoughts of us all when I at last broke it by saying: "Where is Mr. Inglethorp?" John shook his head. 