That morning, complete with pickaxes, field‑telephone, and two armed and mounted warders, Paul and a little squad of fellow‑criminals were led to the quarries. Grimes was in the party.
'I've been here a fortnight, said Grimes as soon as they got an opportunity of talking, 'and it seems too long already. I've always been a sociable chap, and I don't like it. Three years is too long, old boy. Still, we'll have God's own beano when I get out. I've been thinking about that day and night.
'I suppose it was bigamy? said Paul.
'The same. I ought to have stayed abroad. I was arrested as soon as I landed. You see, Mrs Grimes turned up at the shop, so off Grimes went. There are various sorts of hell, but that young woman can beat up a pretty lively one of her own.
A warder passed them by, and they moved apart, banging industriously at the sandstone cliff before them.
'I'm not sure it wasn't worth it, though, said Grimes, 'to see poor old Flossie in the box and my sometime father‑in‑law. I hear the old man's shut down the school. Grimes gave the place a bad name. See anything of old Prendy ever?
'He was murdered the other day.
'Poor old Prendy! He wasn't cut out for the happy life, was he? D'you know, I think I shall give up schoolmastering for good when I get out. It doesn't lead anywhere.
'It seems to have led us both to the same place.
'Yes, Rather a coincidence, isn't it? Damn, here's that policeman again.