“At his precious school, my child, like the rest of us. The notion of allowing a human being to reach his twentieth year before asking him to put his feet in the first position was raving lunacy if you like!” Boy Bayley dived back into the conversation.
“Very good,” I said meekly. “I accept the virtuous plumber who puts in two months of his valuable time at Aldershot——”
“Aldershot!” The table exploded. I felt a little annoyed.
“A camp in an Area is not exactly Aldershot,” said Burgard. “The Line isn’t exactly what you fancy. Some of them even come to us!”
“You recruit from ’em?”
“I beg your pardon,” said Devine with mock solemnity. “The Guard doesn’t recruit. It selects.”
“It would,” I said, “with a Spiers and Pond restaurant; pretty girls to play with; and——”
“A room apiece, four bob a day and all found,” said Verschoyle. “Don’t forget that.”
“Of course!” I said. “It probably beats off recruits with a club.”
“No, with the ballot-box,” said Verschoyle, laughing. “At least in all R.C. companies.”