The assistant retreated precipitately, and Ford, conscious that he appeared ridiculous, tried to turn the tables by saying, "Does a German uniform always affect a Territorial like that ?" The assistant laughed good-naturedly.
"It did give me quite a turn," he said.

"It's this talk of invasion, I fancy.

But for a fact, sir, if I was a Coast Guard, and you came along the beach dressed like that, I'd take a shot at you, just on the chance, anyway." "And, quite right, too!" said Ford.
He was wondering when the invasion did come whether he would stick at his post in London and dutifully forward the news to his paper, or play truant and as a war correspondent watch the news in the making.

So the words of Mr.Clarkson's assistant did not sink in.

But a few weeks later young Major Bellew recalled them.