"Ah," I said, "you have come to see me then on behalf of a friend?"
"On behalf," he said, "of several friends."
My chest swelled visibly. "This man," I said to myself, while reaching for my Corona Coronas, "is planning a garden city, or at least a group of houses on the communal plan."
"The fact is," said Carruthers, clearing his throat, "I am a scout-master, and my troop are collecting wastepaper, and I expect you have any amount of old plans and things that you—"
I was just in time to save the cigar.
"I HEAR YOUR HUSBAND IS HOME FROM FRANCE. IS THE ARMY GOING TO RELEASE HIM?"
"WELL, 'E'S GOT A FORTNIGHT BEFORE HE GOES BACK, BUT BY THAT TIME 'E 'OPES TO BE DEMORALISED."