He means it, too.
There's nothing neurotic about Ledsam." The magistrate nodded.
"Run along, then, my merry Andrew," he said, "but see that Ledsam keeps his word about to-morrow." Andrew Wilmore plunged boldly into the forbidden subject later on that evening, as the two men sat side by side at one of the wall tables in Soto's famous club restaurant.

They had consumed an excellent dinner.
An empty champagne bottle had just been removed, double liqueur brandies had taken its place.

Francis, with an air of complete and even exuberant humanity, had lit a huge cigar.

The moment seemed propitious.
"Francis," his friend began, "they say at the club that you refused to be briefed in the Chippenham affair." "Quite true," was the calm reply.

"I told Griggs that I wouldn't have anything to do with it." Wilmore knew then that all was well.