"A liar? I? And the jewels brought over by aeroplane with my best friend as pilot. This is secret history I'm telling you, Socks. Will you ask Jimmy Thesiger there if you don't believe me. Not that I'd be putting any trust in what he'd say."
"Is it true," said Socks, "that George Lomax came down without his false teeth? That's what I want to know."
"There were two revolvers," said Lady Coote. "Nasty things. I saw them myself. It's a wonder this poor boy wasn't killed."
"Oh, I was born to be hanged," said Jimmy.
"I hear that there was a Russian countess there of subtle beauty," said Socks. "And that she vamped Bill."
"Some of the things she said about Buda Pesth were too dreadful," said Lady Coote. "I shall never forget them. Oswald, we must send a subscription."
Sir Oswald grunted.
"I'll make a note of it, Lady Coote," said Rupert Bateman.
"Thank you, Mr. Bateman. I feel one ought to do something as a thank offering. I can't imagine how Sir Oswald escaped being shot—letting alone die of pneumonia."
"Don't be foolish, Maria," said Sir Oswald.