“How you run on!” she said, which was a warning that he was being unnecessarily obvious. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell him. Anything else while I’m about it? The last time I heard from them, they were getting on very well. They found a mate up there who knew all the answers.”
“Oh, the Army instructor?”
“No.” She seemed at sea. “That doesn’t ring a bell.”
“I thought he was some sort of gym-sergeant expert. Unarmed combat?”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them. He had no reason to think that anyone could hear him, or that it would matter if they did, but as the phrase left his lips he had a hunch that it was going to be unlucky, for the phone was crackling badly and he was relieved that she let the indiscretion pass.
“Oh, I see,” she said. “Yes, you’re right. That is i
