The Commandant had made me accept the loan of a particularly expert revolver that was, I could see, as the apple of his eye.

He must have cared for me a great deal to have lent it me, and it was bright as the things we love.
Then I called Tom to me: "How about that sucking fish, Tom ?" I asked.
"It's just cured, sar," he said.

"I was going to offer it to you this lunch time.

It's dried out fine; couldn't be better.

I'll bring it to you this minute." And he went and was back again in a moment.