For some reason that he could not explain, all this shot through Armitage's mind as the man spoke.
"No, Yeasky, it should not. But I 'll fix that. By the way, how long—No matter, I shan't need you any more to-night, Yeasky."
As he entered the shop the storekeeper was leaving. He nodded to the officer.
"What luck, Lieutenant Armitage?"
"Fair, the wrong end hit first. I think the regulation size would have worked all right. At all events, I 'll study it out to-night."
He paused. Then as the storekeeper stepped past him he called him back.
"Mr. Jackson, I may be silly, but I 've been a bit worried of late. You keep a close eye on the record of parts, don't you?"
"Yes, indeed, sir, I go over it every night."
"Do you ever actually go over the parts to see that they tally with the records? What I mean is, important parts might be missing, although the daily record might be so juggled as to make it appear they were not."
"By George!" exclaimed the storekeeper, "I never have done that. I 'll begin to-morrow."