"By the way," he said with overdone carelessness, "I've got some news for you. It'll be in all the papers to-morrow, so I thought I might as well tell you first." There was a little pause.
"Well?" said Sangster shortly.
Jimmy struck a match on the sole of his shoe.
"I'm engaged," he said, "to Christine."
It seemed a long, long time before Sangster moved or spoke. After a moment Jimmy Challoner swung round irritably.
"Well, why don't you say something?" he demanded. "It's a nice friendly way to receive news. Why the devil don't you say something?" he asked again angrily.
Sangster said something then; something which Jimmy had never expected.
"You ought to be shot!"
And then the silence fell once more.
Jimmy kicked at the blazing coals furiously; he had got very red.