Albert sat on the bed and proceeded to undress, nodding his head with mock gravity all the while. Joe watched him foolishly.
“What?” he repeated faintly.
Albert looked up at him with a knowing look.
“If that isn’t coming it quick, boy!” he said. “What the blazes! What ha’ you bin doing?”
“Nothing!” said Joe.
Albert slowly shook his head as he sat on the side of the bed.
“Don’t happen to me when I’ve bin doin’ nothing,” he said. And he proceeded to pull off his stockings.
Joe turned away, looking at himself in the mirror as he unbuttoned his tunic.
“You didn’t want to keep the appointment?” Albert asked, in a changed voice, from the bedside.
Joe did not answer for a moment. Then he said: