"Mr. Crosbie is here to-day," said Mr. Butterwell to Mr. Optimist.
"Oh, indeed," said Mr. Optimist, very gravely; for he had heard all about the row at the railway station.
"They've made a monstrous show of him."
"I am very sorry to hear it. It's so—so—so— If it were one of the younger clerks, you know, we should tell him that it was discreditable to the department."
"If a man gets a blow in the eye, he can't help it, you know. He didn't do it himself, I suppose," said Major Fiasco.
"I am well aware that he didn't do it himself," continued Mr. Optimist; "but I really think that, in his position, he should have kept himself out of any such encounter."
"He would have done so if he could, with all his heart," said the major. "I don't suppose he liked being thrashed any better than I should."
"Nobody gives me a black eye," said Mr. Optimist.
"Nobody has as yet," said the major.
"I hope they never will," said Mr. Butterwell. Then, the hour for their meeting having come round, Mr. Crosbie came into the Board-room.