"And I--well--I'm breaking regulations to come up an' tell you something, Jimmy.

I never called you a liar in my life, but I'm calling you one now!" He was gripping Kent's hands in the fierce clasp of a friendship that nothing could kill.

Kent winced, but the pain of it was joy.

He had feared that O'Connor, like Kedsty, must of necessity turn against him.
Then he noticed something unusual in O'Connor's face and eyes.

The staff-sergeant was not easily excited, yet he was visibly disturbed now.
"I don't know what the others saw, when you were making that confession, Kent.