I had secured an empty compartment. Something in my blood makes me rush for an empty compartment. I suppose it is because I am a Briton, yet it was another Briton who intruded upon my privacy.
At the first glance I saw that he would talk to me about the—well, what do you expect? I can always tell when men want to talk about it. Would that I had the same subtle instinct when they wish to borrow money! I was ready for him. If he said, "Have you heard?" I was going to answer, "About the Secretary of State for War ordering Lord Fisher to be imprisoned in the Tower as a spy? Why, my brother-in-law told me all about it last week."
Instead he put his hand on my knee and asked, "Are you a German?"
"Unless I am descended from Hengist or Horsa," I replied, "there isn't an atom of culture in me."
"Then I can confide in you. A disturbance is advancing in this direction from Eastern Europe."
"You mean that the Crown Prince is retreating towards us from Poland?"
"No," he snapped. "And another disturbance is coming from the vicinity of Iceland."
"Good heavens! This is too much. At my time of life how am I to learn how to pronounce Pzreykjavik."
"Let me tell you what I prophesy for the next few days. Saturday will be bright."
"Splendid! A cheerful week-end will do us all good."