“How are you, Leon?” Jay-Jay greeted me, while his eyes made a quick survey of my person.
I told him I was getting along all right and asked about his own progress. We managed to talk about this and that for several minutes. He asked me why I hadn’t answered his letter and I told him I lost it without copying the address. Said he hadn’t heard from my sister since he came over here and I said I hadn’t either, but that I thought she was still out West somewhere.
“Wasn’t that her dog I just saw here with you?” he demanded suddenly.
“Dog?” I asked dumbly. “When?”
“Wasn’t that dog and the big fellow with you a moment ago?” he insisted. “Looked just like Leona’s Esky.”
I managed to laugh. “Oh—that!” I said. “That’s my boss’s pup. The big fellow’s the chauffeur and I’m the General’s special clerk, so the pup sticks with us most of the time. He does look like Esky, at that.”
“You didn’t care much for Esky, did you?” he inquired with a smile.
“No—” I admitted. “He’s Leona’s and I don’t like dogs anyway.”
Conversation went on then, with ups and downs of critical moments. Finally he told me about meeting Vyvy and that she had said I didn’t leave Wakeham until three o’clock on the Sunday before I sailed.
“Oh—Vyvy,” I exclaimed. “She was so excited, you know. So glad to see me go. She forgot what day it was, I guess.... Anyway, you ought to know, for I’m damned sure I didn’t dream of seeing you at Camp that day.”