ā€œThere’s not so much promotion in mine,ā€ said Tommy regretfully, ā€œand a great deal less variety. I went out to France again, as you know. Then they sent me to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded for the second time, and went into hospital out there. Then I got stuck in Egypt till the Armistice happened, kicked my heels there some time longer, and, as I told you, finally got demobbed. And, for ten long, weary months I’ve been job hunting! There aren’t any jobs! And, if there were, they wouldn’t give ’em to me. What good am I? What do I know about business? Nothing.ā€

Tuppence nodded gloomily.

ā€œWhat about the colonies?ā€ she suggested.

Tommy shook his head.

ā€œI shouldn’t like the colonies⁠—and I’m perfectly certain they wouldn’t like me!ā€

ā€œRich relations?ā€

Again Tommy shook his head.

16