And all the while Amos and Macnab and Niven carried on their own conversation about the affairs of their society, wholly impervious to the tornado raging around them.
It was Mr Norie, the editor, who brought me into the discussion.
'Our South African friend is very blate,' he said in his boisterous way.

'Andra, if this place of yours wasn't so damned teetotal and we had a dram apiece, we might get his tongue loosened.

I want to hear what he's got to say about the war.

You told me this morning he was sound in the faith.' 'I said no such thing,' said Mr Amos.

'As ye ken well, Tam Norie, I don't judge soundness on that matter as you judge it.