"Well," he said, "it's the largest in stock, and we can't give you what we haven't got." "Yes," I exclaimed, "that's all very well; but if I go about with an open throat like this I shall get an attack of bronchitis.

Pray let me have a stock as soon as possible.
And do you really mean that you can't possibly find me a bigger coat ?" The Deputy-Governor eyed me smilingly as he said, "Come, Mr.Foote, don't be so particular; the clothes don't quite fit you now, but they _will_." And the worst of it was _they did_.

My coat, however, was always tight across the chest.

I changed my trousers and waistcoat as I grew slimmer, but the solid structure of my back and chest (built up by athletics in youth and sustained by lecturing in manhood) always taxed the resources of the establishment in the matter of coats.
One by one we went into the booking-clerk's office again, where we were scaled and our weights entered in a book.

Then we had an interview with the doctor, whose duty it was to examine us to see whether we were suffering from any complaint.