“‘Yes; stick to your pals,’ said Joe.
“‘Through thick and thin,’ suggests the old gent.
“‘To the blooming end,’ agrees Joe.
“‘That’s right,’ says the old gent. ‘Faithful unto death. And you really want to turn over a new leaf—to put your wits and your energy and your courage to good use instead of bad?’
“The old gent murmurs something to himself about a stone which the builders wouldn’t have at any price; and then he turns and puts it straight:
“‘If you undertake the work,’ says he, ‘you’ll go through with it without faltering—you’ll devote your life to it?’
“‘If I undertake the job, I’ll do that,’ says Joe. ‘What may it be?’
“‘To go to Africa,’ says the old gent, ‘as a missionary.’
“Joe sits down and stares at the old gent, and the old gent looks him back.