"Entre nous, I am uneasy about Samphire minor," he said. "And as two heads are better than one I've sent for you, his friend and—er—mine. What do you suggest?"
At that moment Jim would have gone to the rack for Billy. As Jim suggested nothing, Billy continued: "The case presents difficulties, but difficulties give an edge to life—don't they?"
"Sometimes," said Jim cautiously; for Billy had a trick of leading fellows on to make fools of themselves.
"Samphire minor goes too fast at his fences."
Billy knew that any allusion to the hunting-field was not wasted on Jim.
"And the fences," continued Billy thoughtfully, "are rather big for Samphire minor."
"And he won't ride cunning," added Jim.
"Just so. Thank you, my dear fellow; you follow me, I see. Now Samphire major, big though he is, takes advantage of the—er—gaps."
"Rather," said Jim.
"Humph!" Billy stroked his ample chin. Jim was reflecting that his tutor was too heavy for a first-flight man, but that in his day he must have been a thruster.