“That’s what your Chief was saying,” said Jimmy. “He said he was agreeably surprised.”
“I thought Bundle was laying it on a bit thick myself,” said Bill. “But Codders is such an ass he’d swallow anything. Well, night-night. I expect you’ll have a bit of a job waking me when the times comes—but stick to it.”
“It won’t be much good if you’ve taken a leaf out of Gerry Wade’s book,” said Jimmy maliciously.
Bill looked at him reproachfully.
“What the hell do you want to go and make a chap uncomfortable for?” he demanded.
“You’re only getting your own back,” said Jimmy. “Toddle along.”
But Bill lingered. He stood uncomfortably, first on one foot and then on the other.
“Look here,” he said.
“Yes?”
“What I mean to say is—well, I mean you’ll be all right and all that, won’t you? It’s all very well ragging, but when I think of poor old Gerry—and then poor old Ronny—”
Jimmy gazed at him in exasperation. Bill was one of those who undoubtedly meant well, but the result of his efforts would not be described as heartening.
“I see,” he remarked, “that I shall have to show you Leopold.”
He slipped his hand into the pocket of the dark blue suit into which he had just changed and held out something for Bill’s inspection.