“That’s what you said about Gerry Wade,” said Bill slowly. “Do you remember? And that very night he⁠—”

“Shut up, you damned fool,” said Jimmy. “Haven’t you got any tact?”

“Of course I’ve got tact,” said Bill. “I’m a budding diplomatist. All diplomatists have tact.”

“Ah!” said Jimmy. “You must be still in what they call the larval stage.”

“I can’t get over Bundle,” said Bill, reverting abruptly to a former topic. “I should certainly have said that she’d be⁠—well, difficult. Bundle’s improved. She’s improved very much.”

“That’s what your Chief was saying,” said Jimmy. “He said he was agreeably surprised.”