It's a fine country." "Is there anywhere that you haven't been ?" said Tommy.

"I believe you'll write a book one of these days." Monck looked ironical.

"Not till I'm on the shelf, Tommy," he said, "where there's nothing better to do." "You'll never be on the shelf," said Tommy quickly.

"You'll be much too valuable." Monck shrugged his shoulders slightly and turned to go.

"I doubt if that consideration would occur to any one but you, my boy," he said.
They walked to the mess-house together a little later through the airless dark, and there was nothing in Monck's manner either then or during the evening to confirm the doubt in Tommy's mind.