Otherwise they'll snaffle it in London." Fairbairn, once a mild north-country schoolmaster, of correct phraseology and respectable demeanour, had, under the pressure of his service, developed like that white sheet of notepaper.

He had suffered "A sea-change Into something rich and strange" and from a schoolmaster had become a buccaneer with a truculent manner and a mind of violence.

London, under which name he classed all Government officials, offices, departments, and administrations, particularly roused his ire.

London was ignorant, London was stupid, London was always doing him and the other buccaneers down, was always snaffling something which he ought to have.

Fairbairn, uttering one snort of satisfaction, would have shot it with his Browning.
"Get it off your chest, old man," said Hillyard soothingly, "and we'll go on with this letter.