"Well, I don't want to take advantage of you, though you have played me rather a mean trick."
"What do you mean?"
"Wine with you, Mr. Lumsden," interjected Colonel Beckwith from the far end of the table; "a good ride, begad!"
"Thank you, sir! most happy," said Jack, with a look of mingled pleasure and surprise. After the interchange of compliments, Jack, turning again to Pomeroy, said quietly: "What's Sidney driving at? I've never been honoured in this way since I first joined."
"Oh, he's anxious!" returned Pomeroy carelessly.
"Anxious! About what?"
"About his job."
"How? What?"
"'Fraid he'll be superseded, you know."
Jack was so much puzzled by the apparent inconsequence of the reply that he failed to remark the wide grin of amusement which all the subalterns within hearing were vainly endeavouring to dissemble.