‘“Yip!” he said, lighting a twopenny havana.
‘“You’re a Canadian, aren’t you?”
‘“You fellows are winning the war.”
‘“I guess so.”
‘And in this vein he went on. He spun them yarns as tall as a wireless mast, relating how he had missed the V.C. by going round the wrong corner, lost the D.S.O. because the gaw-damn officer wasn’t there, and was recommended by Joffre for the Legion of Honour for holding up a German army corps with a Woodbine and a six-shooter. These poor, innocent mortals were bewildered. The accused is greater than Louis de Rougemont. He then showed them nicotine-stained fingers, and said it was blood; his vaccination-mark was a cut by a shell; and a birth-mark on his chin was a bit sliced off by a Prussian prince of the gaw-damn Prussian Guard.
‘The old gent and his party were thrilled.
‘“But, say, old friend, have a cigar to chew,” remarked Tosher.
‘“Thanks, I will.”
‘Tosher opened his case, but found it was empty.