“You’ve not changed much,” said Jona. “Same funny old face.”
“It is the only one that I happen to have, Lady Tyburn.”
“Oh, drop it. Call me Jona. You always used to, Lukie, you know. And Bill don’t mind; do you, Bill?”
“That? Lord, no. But what you have been and done, Sharper, is to spoil a very pretty and sporting event. Jona and I were racing to Halfpenny Hole, and I’d got her absolutely beaten.”
“Liar,” said Jona, “I was leading—leading by inches.”
“Ah, but I’d lots in reserve.”
“Strong, silent man, ain’t you?” said Jona.
They both laughed.
“Yes,” said Luke, “I’m afraid I was rather in the way. I seem to be almost always in the way. It happens at home. It happens at the office. I say, I wonder what you two would have done if you’d met a cart?”
“Jumped it,” said Jona, and laughed again.