«No. Middle-aged — with rheumatism. I mean, there was a chalky deposit in the joints, and the fingers were a bit swollen.»

«Yes. A man about fifty.»

«About that.»

«Yes. There were other students at work on the same body.»

«Oh, yes.»

«Yes. And they made all the usual sort of jokes about it.»

«I expect so — oh, yes!»

«You can remember some of them. Who is your local funny man, so to speak?»

«Tommy Pringle.»

«What was Tommy Pringle doing?»