Tietjens said:
"You betray your non-Anglo-Saxon origin by being so vocal. . . . And by your illuminative exaggerations!"
Levin suddenly exclaimed:
"What the devil were we talking about?"
Tietjens said grimly:
"I am here at the disposal of the competent military authority—You!—that is inquiring into my antecedents. I am ready to go on belching platitudes till you stop me."
Levin answered:
"For goodness' sake help me. This is horribly painful. He—the general—has given me the job of finding out what happened last night. He won't face it himself. He's attached to you both."
Tietjens said:
"It's asking too much to ask me to help you. . . . What did I say in my sleep? What has Mrs. Tietjens told the general?"