“That’s a very efficient young man,” said Battle, looking after them. “What’s his name⁠—Bateman?”

Jimmy nodded.

“Bateman⁠—Rupert,” he said. “Commonly known as Pongo. I was at school with him.”

“Were you? Now, that’s interesting, Mr. Thesiger. What was your opinion of him in those days?”

“Oh, he was always the same sort of ass.”

“I shouldn’t have thought,” said Battle mildly, “that he was an ass.”

“Oh, you know what I mean. Of course he wasn’t really an ass. Tons of brains and always swotting at things. But deadly serious. No sense of humour.”

“Ah!” said Superintendent Battle. “That’s a pity. Gentlemen who have no sense of humour get to taking themselves too seriously⁠—and that leads to mischief.”