An hour later a note arrived asking us both to dinner that night and telling us very nicely not to mind if we had no dress things.

Of course we had to go, Anscombe rigged up in my second best clothes that did not fit him in the least, as he was a much taller man than I am, and a black satin bow that he had bought at Becket's Store together with a pair of shiny pumps.
I actually met you, my friend, for the first time that evening, and in trouble too, though you may have forgotten the incident.
We had made a mistake about the time of dinner, and arriving half an hour too soon, were shown into a long room that opened on to the verandah.

You were working there, being I believe a private secretary at the time, copying some despatch; I think you said that which gave an account of the Annexation.

The room was lit by a paraffin lamp behind you, for it was quite dark and the window was open, or at any rate unshuttered.

The gentleman who showed us in, seeing that you were very busy, took us to the far end of the room, where we stood talking in the shadow.