It was a fine night, and he walked slowly towards Pall Mall, deep in thought.

Outside one of the big clubs on the right-hand side, a man descended from a taxicab just as Norgate was passing.

They almost ran into one another.
"Norgate, you reprobate!" "Hebblethwaite!" The latter passed his arm through the young man's and led him towards the club steps.
"Come in and have a drink," he invited.

"I am just up from the House.

I do wish you could get some of your military friends to stop worrying us, Norgate.