Lightbody listened, with his eyes in his glass.
"Jack, you're middle-aged—you've gone off—badly. It's hit you hard."
There was a moment's silence and then Lightbody spoke quietly:
"Jim!"
"What is it, old boy?"
"Do you want to know the truth?"
"Come—out with it!"
Lightbody struggled a moment, all the hesitation showing in his lips. Then he said, slowly shaking his head, never lifting his eyes, speaking as though to another:
"Jim, I've had a hell of a time!"
"Impossible!"