‘Say, Boyd,’ cried a voice at the other end of the room, ‘how did the gyro behave last trip?’
‘A 1. I’m becoming a perfect knut at it. He only rang once. I’ve come to the conclusion that when you know the elements of its construction, it’s as easy as falling off a log. Yes, a cocktail, please, waiter. I had some trouble at first though, but that was my own fault. In fact I composed a song entitled “When the Sperry bell is ringing.”’
‘Mine’s jolly fine now, never makes a murmur.’
‘When you’re quite finished your harangue on work, a subject on which you are grossly ignorant, Torps, perhaps you will pay a little attention to me.’ The voice was Raymond’s.
‘Now, tell me why. Why am I to listen to your fatuous and narrow-minded remarks on a topic that is not only entirely distasteful to me at all times, but altogether beyond the pale at this hour of the evening.’
‘My fatuous remark, as you are pleased to call it, was about to take the form of asking you to have a gin with me, but seeing that——’
‘Kamerad, kamerad. I apologise—for once you talk as a Christian should. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend him your ears. He’s going to do the decent. I can feel it coming on.’
‘At one time, in my palmy days, when I was your age,’ said Raymond, raising his glass, ‘I could go a whole pint of beer without swallowing. But now—— It’s a bit ’ard. Cheer-oh, everybody.’
In the train of the drinks came the Marine servants bearing the table-cloths and silver, and a general move was made for the door.
‘This,’ said the Torpedo Lieutenant as he foraged for his cap, ‘is what I joined the Navy for. To dine and meditate with friends.... Damn it, Pay, you’ve pinched my bonnet.’