After a pause Captain Fisher got up slowly, and turned round to face the boy on his bed.
"Whatever your meaning may be, I don't fathom it," he said curtly.
Charlie rolled on to his side to look at him.
"Dense as a London fog," he murmured.
"You'd better go," said Fisher, dropping his cigarette into the fire and beginning to undress.
Charlie sat up and watched him with an air of interest.

Fisher took no more notice of him.

There was no waste of ceremony between these two.
Charlie got up at last and laid sudden hands on his friend's square shoulders.
"I think it wouldn't hurt you to give me a straight answer, old boy," he said, a flicker of something that was not mischief in his eyes.
Fisher faced him instantly.
"What is it you want to know ?" he inquired bluntly.
"This only," Charlie said, with perfect steadiness.

"Are you going in for Miss Erle in solid earnest or are you not?
I want to know your intentions, that's all." "I can't enlighten you, then," returned Fisher.
Charlie laughed without effort.
"Cautious old duffer!" he said.

"Well, tell me this! I've no right to ask it.