“Oh I can always tell,” said Milly.
“Your friend is too.”
“Yes, he is.”
“You'd be surprised how many gentlemen come here just to talk about their wives.”
“He hasn't.”
Tony was leaning across the table and saying to Babs,
“You see the trouble is my wife is studious.
She's taking a course in economics.”
Babs said,
“I think it's nice for a girl to be interested in things.”
The waiter said,
“What will you be taking for supper?”
“Why we've only just had dinner.”
“How about a nice haddock?”
“I tell you what I must do, is to telephone.
Where is it?”
“D'you mean really the telephone or the gentlemen's?”
“No, the telephone.”
“U'stairs in the office.”
Tony rang up Brenda.
It was some time before she answered, then,
“Yes, who is it?”
“I have a message here from Mr. Anthony Last and Mr. Jocelyn Grant-Menzies.”
“Oh, it's you Tony.
Well, what do you want?”
“You recognized my voice?”
“I did.” “Well, I only wanted to give a message but as I am speaking to you I can give it myself, can't I?”
“Yes.”
“Well Jock and I are terribly sorry but we can't come round this evening after all.”
“Oh.”
“You don't think it very rude I hope, but we have a lot to attend to.”
“That's all right, Tony.”
“Did I wake you up by any chance?”
“That's all right, Tony,”
“Well, goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Tony went down to the table.
“I've been talking to Brenda. She sounded rather annoyed.
D'you think we ought to go round there.”
“We promised we would,” said Jock.
“You should never disappoint a lady,” said Milly.
“Oh it's too late now.”
Babs said,
“You two are officers, aren't you?”
“No, why?”
“I thought you were.”
Milly said,
“I like business gentlemen best, myself.
They've more to say.”
“What d'you do?”