With something very like a snort Roger asks, 'How does one say a thing like that casually?'
'Well, for instance, you could whistle while you said it—or anything of that sort.'
'Hum. Of course you—if we were to—be like that, you wouldn't do anything.'
'How do you mean?'
'You wouldn't paw me?'
'Roger,' with some natural indignation, 'you forget yourself.' But apparently it is for him to continue. 'That reminds me of a story I heard the other day of a French general. He had asked for volunteers from his airmen for some specially dangerous job—and they all stepped forward. Pretty good that. Then three were chosen and got their orders and saluted, and were starting off when he stopped them. "Since when," he said, "have brave boys departing to the post of danger omitted to embrace their father?" They did it then. Good story?'
Roger lowers. 'They were French.'
'Yes, I said so. Don't you think it's good?'
'Why do you tell it to me?'
'Because it's a good story.'