Just five years." "Ah! For just five years I've fought, Val, been able to fight." "And before then ?" "I didn't fight; I revelled in the enemy's camp." "You have never told me this before.

Did you suddenly get conversion, as Salvationists say ?" "Something like it.

But my conversion had nothing to do with trumpets and tambourines." "What then?
This is interesting." A certain confusion had come into Julian's expression, even a certain echoing awkwardness into his attitude.

He looked away into the fire and lighted another cigarette before he answered.

Then he said rather unevenly: "I dare say you'll be surprised when I tell you.