His tone, his bearing, his whole manner were changed.

He walked with a springier step, he carried a little cane and he was whistling softly to himself.
"I am going to one or two places in the Tottenham Court Road, by appointment," he announced, "to inspect some new patterns of camp bedsteads.

You can tell them, if they ring up from Whitehall, that I'll report myself later in the evening." Curiously enough, the other man, too had changed as though in sympathetic deference to his superior officer.

He had become simply the obedient and assiduous secretary.
"Very good, sir," he said smoothly.

"I'll do my best to finish the specifications before you return.".