"Chilly this morning, sir," said the chief warder conversationally, and said that he did not know what was happening to the weather nowadays. "Is this the first time you've been inside?"
"In a prison? Oh lord, no," said Ronnie.
"Ah!" The warder jerked his head toward the door. "On this kind of job?"
"Yes, twice before."
The officer looked glum.
"Not very pleasant. It upsets all the routine of the establishment. Can't get the men out for exercise till after it is over. They sit in their cells and brood—we always have a lot of trouble afterwards."
"How is he going to take it?" asked Ronald.
"Who, the prisoner?" Mr. Marsden smiled. "Oh, he's going to take it all right. They never give any trouble—and he—he'll go laughing, you mark my words. We like him, here—that's a funny thing to say, isn't it? But I assure you, I've had to take three men off observation duty—they are the warders who sit in the cell with him—they got so upset. It is a fact. Old fellows who'd been in the prison service for years. Here's the deputy."
A tall man in a trench coat had come through the grille.
"Good morning, Morelle, have you seen the governor?"